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33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  U5S0 

(716)  873-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreprcdiuctions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


\ 


'4<S 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniquas  at  bibliographiques 


Tha  Instituta  has  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  bast 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  tha  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


n 


D 


D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I   Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagie 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restauria  et/ou  pellicuMe 


r~~|    Cover  title  missing/ 


La  titre  da  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartas  giographiquas  an  couleur 


Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encra  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  an  couleur 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relii  avac  d'autres  documents 


Q    Tight  binding  may  cause  shadovirs  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  Mure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  int^rieure 


Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  ijeen  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmAas. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimantairas: 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exempiaire 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exempiaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographiqua,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  m6thode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dessous. 


I      I   Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommag6es 

Pages  restored  and/oi 

Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pelliculAes 


I      I    Pages  damaged/ 

I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


• 


D 


Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  d ^colories.  tachetdes  ou  piqu6es 


I      I    Pages  detached/ 


Pages  d6tach6es 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualit^  indgala  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  matarii 
Comprend  du  material  <«uppldmentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


r~7  Showthrough/ 

I      I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

r~~|  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

nn  Only  edition  available/ 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partieltement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  A  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmi  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

7 

12X 

)6X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

itJh  ■"''•'»* 'Sf^ 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'exemplaire  film6  fut  reproduit  grfice  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Canada 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
i'trA  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  '--^•(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  y  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin.  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commengant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaltra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  y  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  r6duction  diffdrents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichd,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  sup^rieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n^cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mithode. 


1 

2 

3 

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3 

4 

5 

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SOOThSiN  DIsfSlCT  OF  NEW-YORK,  ss.    , 

Be  it  rembmbered,  that  on  the  30th  da3Px>f  July,  A.  Dv  1827, 
in  the  fifty-first  year  of  the  Iiulepe|pid»nce  ot^e  Unit«dtS||tea  ol 
America,  G.  &  C«  Canritf^  'ttie  Mud  district,  have  depcmud  ia 
this  office  the  titib  of  a  ^jjljil^  the  right  whereof  they  qkim  tis  pro< 
prietors  in  the  words  following,  ix>  wit :  ^  \ 

"Letters  and  Memoirs  relating  j^  the  Way  d^ American  IndC' 
pendenoe,  and  the  capture  of  me' Gmetam9ifV90pa  at  Saratoga. 
By  A^ame  de  Jtlidesel.  Translated  firom  the  otiginal^Qerman. 
— ^  V^brare  O^estioa  facta.'* 

In  conformity  to  the  A^t  <ii,Ctxbigtm»  of  dl^tTnited  ^tates^ enti- 
tled, "  An  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  seciiru^the 
copies  of  maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors 
6t  such  copies,  during  the  timee  therein  mentioned ;"  and  alio,  to 
an  Apt,  entitled,  **  An  Aot,  supplliheiitary  to  an  Act,  entitled  an 
Act  for  the  encouragement  of  karning,  by  securing  the  copies  of 
maps,  charts,  and  books,  to  tKlpluthers  and  proprietors  of  such 
copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned,  and  extending  the 
benefits,  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving,  and*  (etching 
historiiftl  and, other  prints." 

%  ;       .  FRED.  I.  BETTS, 

(nerk  o/tJ^<»Mern  District  of  J^ew-Yor0 


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TRANSL  ATOA'S  IPREl^E. 


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The  Baroness  de  Riedesel  ,  departed 
from  Germany  in  1776,  to  join  her  ^^ 
bandy' "the  commander  of  the  Brunnili^ 
troops  incorporated.with  the  British  army, 
then  in  Canada.  Du^ring  her  vofage  and 
residence  in  America,  she  addressed  to 
her  mother,  the  widow  of  the  minister  of 
state,  Mr.  de  Massow,  a  detailed  account, 
not  only  of  all  that  occurred  to  herself, 
but  bf  the  political  events  of  the  day. 
Tliese  papers  became  aft^nvards  the  fH^or 
jp;{#^  pf  Mad.  de  Riedesel's  so --in-laiYi 
CaiptHe^r^  il|ii#the  44th,  ^and  b  marshal 
an|lc!b||iiber|ain  to  the^ourt  of  Berlin.  Du- 
ring it  summei:i^ich  ^bxs  nobfeman  spent 
with  his  lad|t%l^^0tits  on  their  estate,  he 
helpeJMiem  to  put  into  order  thes§  inte^ 


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resting  family  r^gnrds,  with  a  ^i^ll^V'^^'' 
vingthem  printed;  but  pn  accouht^'lil^eir 
confidential  and  ftfivfte^.  character,  it  vxfi^Bf 
at  first,  intended  that  thdlir  circulation 
should  kkot  Vf-^aLtended  beyond  the  circb 
of  a  few  relatives  and  intimate  friends ; 
and  but  a  small  ni^^'ki^r  of  copies  were 
therefore  struck  6ff.  ^  At  the  sugg^tion, 
however,  of  Mr.  Spener,  an  intelligent 
editor  at  J9lerlint  tHpy  were,  at  length, 
given  to  the  public,  in  1800,  a^^w  months 
after  the  death  of  Generftl^iedesel,  un- 
der the  title,  "  Voyage  of Jf&ty  to  Ame- 
rica," &c.  &ct    , 

Fragments  of  this  work  were  first  pub- 
lished in  English,  by  General  Wilkinson, 
in  the  "  Memoirs  of  my  -  own  Times." 
They  were  afterwards,  if  we  mistake  not, 
copied  into  one  or  more  periodical  works; 
and  all,  or  the  greater  part  of  them  are 
also  to  be  found,  literaVjr  transcribed  from 
that  former  translation,  in  Professor  Sil- 
liman's  entertaining  Tour  to  Canada. 
But  th^  whole  work  had  not  as  yet  been 
trahf^^rred  to  the  English^  fromS^  ori- 


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ten 


an,  when  a  fj^nd,  for  whose 
have  a  high  regard,  and  who  is, 
*^e  knowledge  ttdt  leii  of  the  German 
than  EnglishiHerature,  a  coijnpetent  judge 
^  the  merit  of  books  in  boftir  lanl^uages, 
suggested  the  utility  of  adding  to  the  lat- 
ter, A  work  more  ^iJE^Qliarly  interesting  to 
the  Mo  nations^  who  'have  that  tie  of 
mmon  feeling,  than  to  the  Germans/ 
ho  can  merely  fin4  in  its  fitges  melan- 
chqjy  me^'^i^als  of-  misfortunes,  which  no 
duty,  no  reaao^ble  interest,  no  national, 
impulse  led  jJfMjrtion  of  their  countrymen, 
very  small,  it  is  true,  to  ||icttr  beyond  the 
ocean.'  I^f  .        I  f^: 

The  translation   was   begun   with  ^^M'^ 
alacrity  that  was  soon  succeeded  by  dis4| 
^may,  the  reason  of  which  needs  not  be  in*^ 
imated  to  those  who  have  been  engaged" 
[in  similar  undertakings.  ^  But  works   of 
an  analogous  character  had  been  received 
ith  much  tkvour.     The  success  of  the 
*  Recollections  of  the  Peninsular  War," 
nd  the  "  Subaltern,"  and  of  other  works*- 
of  thojl^me  authors,  must  always  ,^'  as> 


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giii|d||l|i^an,  when  a  ij^nd,  for  whose 
taaliPlM  have  a  high  regard,  and  who  is, 
^|ue  knowledge  abi  less  of  the  German 
[than  English  literature,  a  copdpetent  judge 
[4^  the  merit  of  books  in  botlir  lai^^uages, 
suggested  the  utility  of  adding  to  the  lat- 
ter,  a  work  more  pii^oliarly  interesting  to 
[the  f#o  nations^  who  'have  that  tie  of 
[Common  feeling,  than  to  the  Germans/ 
^ho  can  merely  fin4  in  its  piges  melan- 


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cribed/in'a  great  degree,  to  the  able  exe- 
cution, as  much  as  to  the  subject.  But  it 
may  certaiiily  be  expected,  thftt  a  delinea- 
tion of  an  eventful  life,  in  the  midst  of 
military  camps,  will  attract  attention  at  a 
time,  when  the  long  and  dreary  epoch  of 
wars  is  not  yet  so  distant,  that  the  thrill- 
ing emotions  they  excited '  Could  be  for- 
gotten, and  when  the  world  enjoys,  at  last, 
peace,  and  the  prospects  of  its  duration. 
*i  The  Adventures  of  a  Young  Rifleman," 
would  otherwise  have  hardly  found  a  pub- 
lisher, and  certainly  not  such  an  editor  as 
the  title-page  mentions.  Mad.  de  Riede- 
sePs  memoirs  and  letters  may  claim,  in 
addition  to  an  equal  .interest  with  the 
works  just  mentioned,  that,  also,  whilik 
belongs  to  the  true  picture  of  a  conjugal 
devotion,  of  which  there  are  few  bHghter 
examples,  whether  in  history,  biographies, 
memoirs,  or  even  in  novels ; — of  forti- 
tude, courage,  and  confidence  in  Provi- 
dence, of  which  there  can  never  be  af- 
forded too  many  examples  for  the  eventu- 


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al  profit  of  the  happiestt.or  the  support 

lof  those  who  need   encouragement   and 

|cons61ation— |ind  of  success  in  ^  most  ar- 

luhQUS  but  noble  undertaking,  which,  also, 

lay  be  a  lessOn  to  all  who  have  duties  to 
fulfil,  that    seeijii  above    tKehr    strength. 

^he  moral  of  the  story  is  more  striking 
md  impressive,'  coming  .from  a  female — 

lady,  who  by  birth  and  rank  was  proba- 
bly the  least  prepared  to  encounter  dan~ 
rers  fit  only  toy  the  professional  soldier. 

^hatever  may  be  thought  of  the  political 
expediency  of  admitting  into  camps,  in 
|he  midst  of  actual  w%By  the  sex  whose 
^rganiiation  and  whose  duties  are  calcu- 
ited  for  the  sunny  season  of  peace,  the 
kropptitude  with  which  she  hastened  to 
rsverse  the  ocean,  in  order  to  share  with 
ker  hufiland,  toils,  sufferings,  want,  or 
feath,  and  the  reflected  courage  with 
rhich  she  disregarded  the  chances  of  a 
[truggle,  in  which  she  had  been  told  that 
lavages  were  a  portion  of  the  belligerents> 
n\\  ever  be  interesti^  as  a  new  eicaPiplQ; 


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of  the  strenuous  exertions  to  which  fe-l 
igsale  tenderness  can  be  exalte^*  There 
has  been,  indeed,  in  recent  ti^||  but  one 
brighter  exampfe  of  female  fortitude  andl 

'    afiection,     Madame   de   Larochejaquelinl 
stands  alone*  in  uninimitable  grandeur  andl 

K    goodness,  in  the  midst  of  cci^^nmstancesl 
which  pot  her  8|x  to  trials  unknown  bel 
fore,  and  w^^^.^i^e  devoutly  wish  ma; 
never  more  refttfn  to  Wge  even  a  heroine 
equally  coura^eogs  and  amiable,  upon  th^ 
scene  of  civil  wanrl 

For  the  public  to  w|^m  this  trans!  atioij 
is  presented,  it  has,  nioreover,  a  nationi 
interest.  Mad.  de  RiedesePs  memoir j 
are  a  genuine  appendix  to  American  his] 
tory.  They  trace  national  events,  and 
delineate  the  state  of  society,  in  this  coun] 
try,  at  one  of  itsmoi^  momentous  epochs] 
Names  .that  witi^^go  down  to  posterity! 
with  the  memory  of  lofty  actions  anf 
events  of  a  new,  lasting,  and  far-sprea<l 
ing  character,  are  here  brought  togethel 
by  one,  who  was  the  friend,  the  associate! 


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[thd^ofipanion,  or,  at  least,  "tfie  acquaint*^ 
lance  of  their  bearers ;'  of  Washington,    .^ 
iGates,    ^k^uyler,    Carleton,    Bu^goyne^^ 
*hi]h*p8,  and  the  person  »the  nearest  ^i^6r       ^ 
lated  to  the  JSpble  authoress,  Gegpral  ^ 

iedeseL      ^     '^  ;?,  " 

Althougfar  we  are  neither  authcHti^m  >or 
^ncl^d  to  vouch  for  the  eorr^^tiiGss  of  ^V 
lany  anecdotes  related  Ifjr  tlie  authoress, 
lor  the  truth  of  thf.ijhtu^icters  she  traces 
>f  some  distinguished  men,  we  think  she 
leserves  to  be  heard  ^^1%  Mtness  for  thi 
)pposite  party;  and  thK  reader  or  histo^ 
rian  who  shall  o<^^re  her  relations  with  ^^f^ 
those  of  a  still  less  dubious  authenticity,  ^ ,  " 
dll  be  able  to  determine  its  real  value. 

^neral  BurgoyUe's  reputatitib-  generally 
Fas,  we  believe,  that  of  an  elegant  writer,    , 

good  speaker,  an^  an^iable  and  accom- 
)lished  gentleman,./^^d:id%  gallant  officer, 
levoutly  attached  to**  hie  country,  ambi- 
ious,  but  ambitious  of  distinction  in  the 
service  of  his  sovereign,  and  who  was  hot 
tore  successful  in  his  great  expedition, 


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Ipl^^Xtaking  the  moat  c^mpreUBiiQOlitvc 
of  the  events  of  that  'ty0)  it  m^  the 
will  of  Providence,  that  £ngkii|d  «1^(^ 
In  yain  employ  her|l9<>st  dt8tpi|;^ 
geflerals,  and  dev^t^  |i|ejNxtensive : 
to  the  preservation  oif  Her  dominioii^-^t 
her    ancient    colonies.      Thii^»  in  |pi 
H^^tes  had)  perhaps,  only  new  troopfti  ii 
vain  ^as  Washington  in  a  mos^critict 
'  situation,  at  the  sa>^%tiine  that  Gates,  too] 
i^vas  cooped  up  betweeii  two  armies,^  hetteo 
|orgaiiize4^  more  amply  proviiled,  betteJ 
disciplijied  and  arme(it^jpid,  perhaps,  com] 
manded    by  more   ei^^r^enoed    officersJ 
*j|"  ?pit  whatever  might  have  been  thought  o| 
^,  *     .Bufgbyne,  previous  to,  and  after  the  inj 
'^     quiry  before  the  House  hf  Commons,  the 
charges  brought,  against  him  by  M^d.  dt 
vRiedesel,    are    the    least    known.      We 
should  not  have .  enlarged  so  much  upoi 
*^^  Aw.  lines  of  her  work,  did  we  not  wisl 
to  i^ove  at  once,  by  some  sti^iking  im 
stance,  all  doubt  of  the  manner  in  whicii| 
we  consider  her  testimony,  in  spite  of  thel 


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respect  due  to  her  sex,  and  to  give  cleart^jp 
to  understand  that  we  are  mere  transla- 
tors, and  on  no  account  vouchers  of  her 
statements  ;  and  we  say  with  Montaigne, 
I' As  for  the  tales  I  borrow,  I  charge  them 
ipon  the  conscience  of  those  from  whom      , 

have  them.**  ^  •  -*4ik 

For  the  passages  which  have  been  omit-  ^ 
led  in  the  translation,  no  apology  will  be  ^^ 
jequired  by  those   who   can   peruse   the 
original.      Whether  right   or  -Wicongj    (a 
luestion   not   now  to  be  discusl^e'd,)  the 
leading  portion  of  mankind  has  becombx 
jo  hostile  to  vulgarity,  so  delicate,  in  sonie    .f 
[espect  so  fastidiously  refined,  that  many  "^ 

lings    and    words    that   were    perfectly 

inocent  and  inoffensive,  or  only  per- 
lertible  by  the  sagacity  of  profligates 
[nd  rakes,  at  a  time   not   distant   from 

lat  of  Fielding   and  Smollet,   are   now    . 

msidered   utterly   disgraceful,   and  are  * 

fholly  banished  from   polite    literature, 
^e  thought,  however,  that  we  might,  upon 

le  authority  of  Cervantes,  name,  "  with- 


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out  begging  pardon,"  the  word  hog  or 
swine — "  for  so  they  are  called,"  as  the! 
immortal  novelist  humorously  adds.  Yet, 
for  some  expressions,  and  some  details, 
alike  '*  unfashionable"  or  unpleasing,  we 
venture  to  ask,  in  behalf  of  the  authoress,] 
the  reader's  indulffence.  ,    „  .    » 

A- few  short  notes  have  been   added:! 
there  id   but  one  in  the  original,   whichi 
is^omitted    in  the   translation.      A  longi 
quotation  from  Weld's  Voyage  to  Northl 
America,  relative   to  Brandt,  the  Indiaij 
qhief,    which    forms    the    appendix    tol 
the  German  volume,  would  be  useless  to| 
the  American  public,  and  is  omitted.     Ii 
its  stead,  we  give,  through  the  kindness  oi 
a  most  obliging  friend,  several  original  letl 
ters  of  General  Riedesel  to  GenerarWashJ 
ington   and  General  Gates.     The  author] 
of  an  interesting  Life  of  Mr.  Jefferson,  ir 
the  Memoirs  of  the  Signers  of  the  De| 
claration  of  Independence,  has  quoted 
letter  of  the   latter,   which   proves,   like 
those  published  in  the  appendix,  that  inl 
the  midst  of  the  Revolutionary  war,— al 


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rar  which,  it  might  have  been  supposed, 
(would  necessarily  bear  the  stamp  of  the 
Istrongest  animosities  and  incensed  pas- 
|sions,"  peculiar  to  civil    dissensions,     not 
mly   humanity,   but    urbanity,   kindness,    "* 
md  genuine  sympathy  were  shown  to  the     •. 
[captives : — a  sufficient  proof  that  the  tima  #* 
ras  not  yet  remote,  when,  as  at  Fonte-  ^"^ 
lOi,  the  English  and  French  guards  took 
>fr  their  hats  and  saluted  each  other,  bei     ~ 
fore  they  began  to  fight  a  bloody  battle.  • 
[t  is  painful  to  remember  how  difFerent 
md  iirore  lamentable  has  been  the  fate,  ^^ 
|n  later  times,  of  the  vanquished,  in  other    *^ 
countries.      The     American     revolution, 
rhich  was  one  of  the  most  powerful  prt)- 
lotersj,  of    thai   of    France — which    has 
riven  to  other  jii|trons  the  doubtful  exam- 
)le   of    a    waf  for  abstract  principles — 

rhich   revived,  if  it  did  not  create,    the 

> 

warfare  with  militia  troops,  free-corps, 
guerillas,  "  Landwehr,"  <fec.  &c.  has  not 
)een  more  imitated  elsewhere  in  its  general 
iharacter,  than  in  the  sparing  of  every 
ivoidable  infliction  of  misery,  and  in  the 


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continuation  of  the  charities  of  peace/ as 

far  as  it  was  possible : — and  if  no  where, 

in  apparently  similar  circumstances,  there 

has  yet  appeared  a  second  Washington, — 

w:-  the  peerless  patriot, — there  were,  too,  we 

,    fear,  but  few  Gates  and  _  Schuylers  to  mi- 

^^tigate,  in  the  heat  of  a  civil  war,  the  suf- 

'".    ferings  of  the  vanquished  and  the  dying> 

^and  to  gladden  the  sad  hours  of  the  cap- 

^  ^rtive.  ^^;;  -'^r't.  ■ -.-"       -•:    ■■'.■'-'-—"■' ^'^'■'-■'^y- 

^^  General  Wilkinson,  who  knew  Mad.  de 

Riedesel  personally,  calls  her  "the  amia- 

^^ble,  the  accomplished,  and  dignified  ba- 

J'  roness." — "  I  have  more  than  once,"  says 

'he,  "  seen  her   charming   blue  eyes   be- 

,    dewed  with   tears,  at  the  recital  of  her 

sufferings."      According   to    information 

imparted  from  Virginia,  where  she  is  yet 

,     remembered,    as   she   must   be   in    some 

other  parts  of  this   continent  where  she 

has  resided,  she  had  much  "  embonpoint," 

a  handsome  face,  and  rendered  herself  an 

object  of  wonder,  in  riding  in  boots,  and 

'^what   was  then   called    "the    European 

fashion."     She  visited  some  of  the  princi-^ 


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paf  families  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Char- 
lottesville. How  far  the  circumstances  in 
which  she  found  herself,  might  have  been 
a  plea  for  the  carelessness  in  her  attire,  it 
is  not  for  us  to  say,  who,  as  translator  of 
her  memoirs,  may  be  permitted  to  con- 
fess, that  we  should  be  glad  to  represent 


■.a;*.'  ;,:•#«  "^  .?>i  ■ 


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her  as  perfect  as  possible. 

Of  the  German  captives,  there  are  pro*^ 
bably  many  yet  living  in  this  country r' 
They  were  generally  pleased  with  their 
situation  in  Virginia, — were  industrious, 
active,  peaceful,  and  liked  by  those  with 
whom  a  singular  fate  had  brought  them 
into  connexion.  Lieutenant  Auburey 
(author  of  "  Travels  through  the  interior 
parts  of  America,"  2  vds.  London,  1789) 
wondered  at  the  preference  which  was 
shown  to  them  over  the  English.  The 
thing  is  easily  conceived,  if  it  was  meant 
to  say  that  the  British  prisoners  bore  their 
misfortune  with  less  resignation.  The.t^ 
German  troops  that  were  sent  to  this 
country,  had  neither  great  love  for  Eng- 
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land,  nor  resiBntment  figunst  the  Ameri- 
canj9.    Little  did  a  Brunswic  soldier  under- 
stand the  sorrow  of  witnessing  the  sepa-l 
ration  of  a  part  of  the  British  Jpamily,  the| 
pain  of  losing  vast  regions,  a|^liiV>humi> 
liation  of  nationl^  arms.     TBie  Duke  ori 
Prinjoe  received  the  subsidies ;  regimentsl 
were  organized  ;  officers,  partly  veteransj 
who    had    already   begun    to    enjoy    the! 
sweets  of  a  military  pension,  were  calledj 
f^      to  head  them :  many  of  the  men  were  en- 
listed  by  violence: — they  embarked,  andl 
'^ "  fierce    Germania's     blue-eyed     youth,"! 
%    fera  ccerulea  Germanim  pubesy  with  thcj 
heavy  accoutrement  which  distinguished,! 
•until  the  late  war  of  Germany,  the  equipage] 
of  the  troops  of  that  country ;  with  haver- 
It    sacks,    long-skirted    coats,   long    swordsj 
enormous  canteens,  grenadier  caps,  with! 
heavy  brass  ornaments,  much  powder  and! 
pomatum  in  the  hair,  and   clumsy  queues] 
^  jogged  spiritless,   through  dense  forests! 
and  over  impassable  roads,  heart-sick  otj 
%a  mercenary  warfare,  and  longing  afterl 


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the  dear  '<  Fatherland."  Lieatenant  Au- 
burey  says,  "  The  Germans,  to  the  num- 
I  ber  of  twenty  or  thirty,  at  a  time,  will,  in 
I  their  conversations,  relate  to  each  other, 
that  tiley  are  sure  they  shall  not  live  to 
see  home  again,  and  a|0  certain  that  they 
shall  soon  die.  Would  you  believeit,  af- 
ter this  they  mope  and  pine  about,  haunt- 
ed with  the  idea  that 


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"  Nor  wives,  nor  children  shall  they  more  behold, 
Nor  friends  nor  sacred  home" 


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[Nor  qan  any  medicine  or  advice  you  can    ^    ' 
[give  them,  divert  this  settled  superstition, 
[which  they  as  surely  die    martyrs   to,  as 
lever   it   infects  them.     Thus   it  is,   that 
[men,  who  have  faced  the  dangers  of  bat-    ^^ 
tie  and  of  shipwreck,  without  fear,  (for  they 
ire  certainly  as  brave  as  any  soldiers  in 
the  world,)  are  taken  off  a  score  at  a  time, 
)y  a  mere  phantom  of  their  own  brain.  >       ^ 
'his  is  a  circumstance  known  to   every       .    -" 
)ne  in  the  army."  .      #       f. 


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If  any  one  of  these  food  Germans  find 
pleasure  in  perusing  this  volume,  he  is 
fully  authorized  to  think  it  particularly 
inscribed  to  him,  by 

'BiH  '<h. ;  f  i '^  ri-:l^'  The  Translator. 


JuJiJy  1827. 


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NOTES  TO  THE  PREFACE. 


Note  I — Page  11. 


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1 


General  Wilkinson  ascribes  Burgoyne's  misad- 
venture, to  the  express  order  he  had  received  to 
form  a  junction  with  Sir  William  Howe.  He 
might  otherwise  have  taken  a  safe  position,  within 
reach  of  his  magazines  at  Fort  George,  and  waited 
event0.  Unappalled  by  the  misfortune  of  Baum, 
or  the  discomfiture  of  St.  Leger,  he  redoubled  his 
activity  and  exertions  to  surmount  the  almost 
insuperable  difficulties  of  deficient  transport,  and 
pursued  his  course  with  astonishing  decision. 
"Indeed,'"  says  general  Wilkinson,  "the  conduct 
ofBurgoyne,  on  this  occasion,  marked  the  soldier, 
regardless  of  personal  motives,  faithful  to  his  profes- 
sion,  and  solely  intent  on  the  execution  of  his  in- 
structions."— Memoirs  of  my  own  Times,  vol.  1.  p, 
223.    -  -  ^'^    •  * 


Note  H — Page  15.  ^ 

"  The  English  officers,"  says  Voltaire,  "  saluted 
the  French,  taking  off  their  hats.    Count  Chabanes 


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trwl  tff'^  duke  of  Biron,  who  had  advanced  in 
front  of  tii(^  line,  as  well  as  all  the  officers  of  the 
French  guards,  returned  the  compliment.  Lord 
Ck-^rles  Hay,  captain  of  the  British  guards,  cried : 
•  Gentlemen  of  the  French  guards,  fire.'  Count 
Hauterochc,  then  lieutenuntof  the  grenadiers  ami 
since  captain,  replied  in  a  loud  voice:  'Geuilo- 
men,  we  never  fire  the  first:  we  expe«  <  your 
fire.*" — "  Pr^ct*  du   Siicle  de  Louis   XI  y,    -rJ 

Louis  xr." 


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Note  III — Pa^je  16. 


We  cannot  resist  quoting  a  striking  example  of 
the  prejudices  to  which  bfilliant  minds  are  some- 
times liable,  and  whose  opinion  of  some  men 
mitfh*  have  been  generally  adopted,  had  they  not 
hud  the  good  fortune  to  live  long  enough  to  con- 
tradict it  in  the  most  incontrovertible  manner. 
There  are  those  who  outlive  their  own  glory,  and 
others  whose  mortal  career  Providence  prolongs 
so  as  to  remain  immortal  The  following  passage 
is  copied  from  Horace  Walpole's  (earl  of  Oxford) 
Memoirs  of  the  last  Ten  Years  of  the  Reign  of 
George  n.  from  the  or  i;  nil' manuscripts,  (2  vol.  4|o. 
LoiiJon,  1822,) — a  -AOi)  <  rare  in  l!  is  country, 
that  this  circumsta..cij  uiouc  could  be  a  sufficient 
excuse  for  the  length  of  this  note.  ^' 

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1754.     "  In  August  came  flows  of  the  defeat 
ji* major  Washington,  in  the  Greut  Meadows,  on 
the  western  bordui.^  of  Virgunu;  n  trifling  action, 
but  remarkable  for  givitip'  datfc  "to  the  waf -     The 
encroachments  of  tho  French  have  been  already 
mentioned,  but  in  May  they  had  proceeded  to 
open  hostilities.     Major  Washington  with  about 
fifty  men  attacked  one  of  their  parties,  and  slew 
the  commanding  ofHcer.     In  this  skirmish  he  was 
supported  by  an  Indian  half-king  and  twelve  of 
his   subjects,  who  in   tho    Virginian  accounts  isi 
called  a  very  considerable  monarch.     On  tlio  3d 
of  July,  the  French  being  reinforced  to  the   lum- 
ber of  900,  fell  on  Washington  in  a  small  fort, 
which  they  took,  but  dismissed  the  commai'der 
with  military  honours,  being  willing  as  they  f^\- 
pressed  it  in  the  capitulation,  to  show  that  thoy 
treated  them  like  friends.     In  the  express  which 
major  Washington  despatched  on  his  preceding 
little  victory,  he  concluded  with  the  words,  "1 
heard  the  bullets  whistle,  and  believe  me  there  is 
something  charming  in  the  sound."     On  hearing 
of  this  letter,  the  king  said  sensibly,  '  He  would 
not  say  so,  if  he  had  been  used  to  hear  many.' 
Howtver,  this  brave  braggart  learned  to  blush  for  Mx 
rodomontade^  and  desiring  to  serve  general  Braddock 
as  aid-de-camp^  acquitted  himself  nobly. — Vol.  1.  p. 
346— -7. 


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24 


»1I 


U 


It  is  but  justice  to  add  the  British  editor's  note 
to  the  passage  printed  in  italics : 

"  It  is  wonderful  that  Lord  Oxford  should  have 
allowed  this  expression  to  remain,  after  he  had 
lived  to  witness  and  admire  the  subsequent  career 
of  that  great  man,  general  Washington." 

There  is  in  the  next  page  a  curious  anecdote  of  | 
general  Gates,  who  had  just  returned  to  London 
from  Nova-Scotia,  when  the  ministry  received  the 
news  from  Virginia.  ,    " 


R*-  ;  f.} 

V, 


-fl^t 


\   I 


"^ 


#- 

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.\ 


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-,,,,.,.. , 


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.\ 


■  -  '■'^r.'- , 


V4'       ■, 


•  LETTERS.     ^ 


LETTER  I. 


■m 


FROM  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  HIS  WIFE. 

Leifert,  Feb.  22,  1776. 

My  dear  wife, — Never  have  I  suffered  so  much, 

IS  at  our  separation  this  morning.     My  heart  was 
linking  within  me  and  could  I  have  returned,  who 

tnows  what  determination  I  might   have   taken. 

Jut,  my  dearest,  it  is  God's  will  and  I  must  obey ; 

luty  and  honour  compel  me  to  yield ;    we   must 
therefore  take  comfort  and  not   repine.     Indeed,i, 

)^our  health,  the  anxiety  arising  from  your  situation, 

md  the  care  of  our  dear  daughters,  alone  give  me 
uneasiness.     Take  the  greatest  care  of  the  dear 

[iris,  whom  I  love  most  fondly. 

I  have  reached  this  place  in  safety  and  in  good 
health,  though  much  fatigued,  in  consequence  of 
Ihe  anxiety  which  my  mind  has  suffered  for  some 
(lays  past.     I  hope  sleep  will  refresh  me  and  tliat 

flour's  will  be  likewise  beneficial  to  you. 

3 


*'■ 


■V- 


-'♦>,■ 


;¥ 


\r' 


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./. 

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nai 


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■■i»>,'^''  '•  .  -v'^i.,'-/-.' 


'^,:J^- 


26 


I  have  this  evening  been  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  Major  General.  Be  therefore  pleased,  Mrs. 
General,  to  be  in  good  health  and  to  join  me  as 
soon  as  your  situation  will  permit. 


.f 


^H: 


^ 


LETTER  II. 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


5"  „.-■ 


■f- 


*.      ■-* 


Gifhom,  Feb.  23,  1776. 

I  have  reached  Gifhorn  w^ithout  any  untoward 
accident,  and,  thank  Heaven,  we  have  had  no  de- 
serters.    I  could  have  enjoyed  a  good  rest,  had 
not  my  mind  been  so  much  occupied  by  thoughts] 
of  you  and  our  dear  children.     You  did  not  observe 
and  I  was  far  from  wishing  that  you  sh©ul(^observc, 
how  much  I  have  suffered  during  the  last  four 
weeks,  and  how  difficult  it  was  to  conceal  my  anx- 
iety.    My  duties  have  weighed  but  little  upon  my 
mind,  in  comparison  with  the  mournful  thoughts 
which  oppressed  it.     The  sacrifice  is  now  made. 
It  was  the  will  of  God  .   let  His  will  be  done. 
I  have  little  doubt  of  the  possibility  of  your  joining  I 
me,  when  you  shall  be  able  to  leave  your  chamber. 
Take  goodil^re  of  your  own  health  and  the  infant's.  I 


^%: 


:fi 


l#^;- 


■^■■^ 


*•  '^  *Wti,V 


« 


^^%mi4-. 


^<*"'j^»v,'ii:-,-Tr?,"^^--,.  ,'»nw:--T^  ^ 


% 


^7 


*i 


I  believe  our  eldest  daughter  and  Frederica  will 
bear  the  fatigues  of  the  journey  well ;  but  you 
must  not  expose  the  youngest  to  such  trials,  what- 
ever may  be  its  sex,  nor  must  you  injure  it  by  ex- 
cessive tenderness.  It  is  better  to  part  with  a 
child,  for  a  short  time,  than  to  incur  the  self-re- 
proach of  having  occasioned  its  death.  Neither 
must  you  depart,  before  knowing,  by  my  first  letters 
from  America,  where  I  am  myself;  and  you  must 
endeavour  to  procure  good  letters  of  introduction 
for  England,  in  order  to  live  there  comfortably. 
Take  care  to  travel  slowly,  and  not  to  expose  the 
children  too  much  to  the  open  air. 


u 


LETTER  III. 

\M^-   FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 

Haukenbiittel,  Feb.  25,  177G.  f 

I  received  this  morning,  my  dear  wife,  your  first 
letter,  by  which  I  see,  thank  God,  that  you  are  well 
and  have  begun  to  submit  with  patience  to  the  sa- 
crifice which  my  duty  and  the  will  of  Heaven  have 
imposed  upon  me.  Continue  in  this  laudable  dis- 
positHp,  and  by  praying  to  God  you  will  obtain 


■^'.f 


9^f 


^-     •■■'^ 


f 


•-*.' 


V~  .  r»»«    ••  ««,#• 


■-*'•.  «*■»!>  lirti 


p^-ii^'  '^pihB^ 


'"•'•S*-"'- 


\A:. 


28 


•*•,- 
> 


I 


the  strength  ne(  essary  to  support  you  under  your 
affliction.  I  am,  thanks  to  Providence',  very  well, 
though  I  am  still  deprived  of  sleep,  and  my  hetu't  is 
loaded  with  a  heavy  burden.  I  feel  the  want  of 
you  and  of  my  dear  children.  What  does  Gusta- 
va  say  ?  how  does  Frederica  do  ?  Give  my  com- 
pliments to  Mrs.  Paasch  and  her  daughter,  and  say 
to  the  latter  thafl  expect  from  her  (without  your 
knowledge,)  a  letter  full  of  news,  respecting-  your 
health  and  spirits.  Kiss  our  dear  children  for  me, 
and  be  assured  tliat  I  shall  ever  be,  &c. 


I.     W 


LETTER  IV. 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 

•Amelinghausen,  Feb.  29,  1116. 

I  will  relate  to  you  the  occurrences  of  the  day  in 
a  few  words.  You  know  that,  on  the  22d,  I  was  at 
Leifert  thoughtful,  low-spirited,  fatigued  and  de- 
prived of  sleep. 

The  23d,  I  passed  at  Gifhorn :  we  had  cold  and 
unpleasant  weathier ;  I  dined  with  General  Bre- 
mer. 

We  made  a  dav's  halt  at  Haukenbiittel.    -r 


vour  s  w: 


^yp- 


•r^:;r^ 


H 


^.>^.y^,iiWn,«>«wi«<^iUaHt^^i#lii»0  I  ■ii<Mi  I  ni'ii  ■^-~-.. 


^H^„  m  ,1  *$!»,.■  nt^rj^ii- 


■  i  ... 


-'»•■-? 


29 


On  the  2dth  and  26th,  we  were  at  Vriestadt.  I 
went  to  inspect  my  regiment  of  dragoons,  which 
had  been  quartered  on  the  estate  of  a  Mr.  de  Grote. 

I  reached  EbsdorfF,  on  the  27th,  and  on  the  28th 
I  arrived  at  Amelinghausen.  Here  I  inspecfed 
my  regiment  of  infantry,  and  it  was  1 1  o'clock  be- 
fore I  returned  to  this  place. 

Since  yesterday  I  have  had  my  dragoons  with 
me,  and  they  will  remain  with  me  until  we  reach 
Stade,  where  we  shall  be  on  the  5th  of  March.  I 
have  again  to-day  a  large  company  to  dine  with 
me.  Our  ordinary  table  consists  of  12  persons. 
On  our  march  we  have  five,  and  on  our  halting- 
days,  we  have  six  dishes.  The  expense  of  the 
kitchen  is  on  an  average  half  a  Louis  d'or  a-day. 
I  send  enclosed  a  letter  for  Gustava  and  Frederica, 
both  of  whom  I  embrace  tenderly,  and  remain 
your's  with  all  my  heart  and  soul. 


■1^ 


X 


11 


■:kf    . 


#'■ 


LETTER  V. 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 

Stade,  March  3,  1770.  -p, 

1  write  you  now,  though  much  fatigued,  yet 
transported  with  joy  at  the  happy  erabafkation  of 

3* 


^■■-i! 


'•-n?^' 


-# 


\ 


30 


••••■ 


.*■ 


«. 


A 


«4. 


^#- 


I 


/ 


•i«?fl 


.'.«% 


SU^■ 


^ 


/-i'-'f 


the  dragoons  and  grenadiers.  At  5  o*clock,  the 
emblflkation  began,  and  in  less  than  three  hours: 
not  a  soldier  remained  ip  town  :  all  were  on  the 
Elbe,  an  hour  and  a  half's  journey  hence.  The 
departure  of  the  boats  was  one  of  the  finest  spec- 
tacles that  could  be  seen.  All  was  contentmenl 
and  joy,  and  the  citizens  are  at  a  loss  how  to  ex- 
press their  admiration  of  the  good  order  in  which 
the  embarkation  was  effected,  and  of  the  behaviour 
ofrour  troops,  during  their  residence  here.  Prince 
Henry's  regiment  and  mine  are  expected  to-mor- 
row, but  I  do  not  yet  know  when  they  are  to  em- 1 
bark,  for  we  have  not  half  boats  enough,  and  their 
arrival  is  so  much  the  more  uncertain  as  the  boats' 
crews  were  not  ready  when  those  jyhich  are  here,  | 
left  England. 

I  shall  probably  remain  here  a  week  longer — | 
and  shall  have  on  board  my  ship  a  good  officer, 
Captain  Foy,  whom  you  remember  having  seen  at 
Minden.  He  served  in  the  English  artillery,  and 
is  very  tall.  His  wife,  who  is  an  American,  is  now 
in  England, — but  he  intends  that  she  shall  join 
him  in  America,  as  soon  as  tranquillity  shall  be  in 
some  degree  restored,  and  it  would  give  him  great 
pleasure  if  she  could  accompany  you,  yet  not  until 
he  and  myself  shall  learn  somewhat  more  respect- 
ing our  own  situation. 

Foy  remains  with  me  until  we  reach  America. 


i 


\r 


M^ 


31 


According  to  him,  crossing  the  Ocean  is  a  mere 
trifle.  I  shall  embark  on  board  the  Pallas,%very 
good  ship,  though  the  state-room  is  too  small  for 
the  seven  officers  whom  I  am  obliged  to  keep  with 
me, — but  Foy  assures  me  that  I  shall  sail  from 
Portsmouth  on  board  a  man-of-war,  of  a  large 
size.  I  have  to-day  inspected  several  ships  that 
are  here. 

But  enough  of  me,  my  dear  wife,  and  let  me  say 
a  word  of  you,  whom  I  love  better  than  myself.  I 
hope  that  you  are  now  perfectly  recovered,  and 
that  towards  April  you  will  be  ready  for  the  voy- 


t     i» 


age. 


%■' 


* 


LETTER  VI. 


«»^ 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


■v ,         .,,  Stade,  March  18, 1776. 

Dear  wife, — I  am  now  ready  to  embark,  com- 
pletely resigned  to  Providence,  which  will  kindly 
watch  over  me  in  future,  as  it  has  done  until  now. 
Do  not  be  alarmed  at  the  news  which  I  send  to  you, 
and  keep  in  mind  that  life  on  board  a  ship  is  quite 
agreeable.  I  have  good  company ; — on  my  arrival 


0. 


!>'"*>4  WPIPW<W'^^'^«"  »n?l«™»^  ... 


\:- 


32 


on  the  British  coast  and  embarkation  in  a  man-oi- 
war,  I  shall  be  still  better  off.    ^  . 

I  have  finally  concluded  that  you  go  to  Ports- 
mouth, as  soon  as  your  health  and  |hat  of  the  new- 
born one,  my  little  Carolina,  will  permit,  and  that 
you  there  await  my  first  letters  from  America.  Be 
not  impatient :  God  loves  ufi  too  well  to  keep  us 
long  separated.  "^^^ 

My  bit^her  dines  to-morrow  with  me ;  and  afler 
"^that,  all  will  be  ovei':  but  that  moment  hangs 
darkly  before  my  eyes.  Kiss  oiftr  children,  our 
dear  little  ones,  for  me.  The  ship  waits  for  me : — 
I  must  go — farewell — love  me  always.  Preserve 
for  my  sake  your  precious  health,  and  be  assured 
that  I  shall  ever  be,  &jc.  i 


''%-- 


LETTER  VII. 


iS- ' 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME.       S^^ 
On  board  the  Pallas,  March  21,  177C. 

We  are  still  lying  quietly  before  Stade,  in  con- 
sequence of  contrary  winds,  and  we  must  bear  it 
with  patience.  However,  we  shall  go  to  Fryburg, 
which  is  not  far  from  Gluckstadt,  to  wait  for  more 


r 


-k^ 


*- 


,>iffe. 


-^^^Mtf ,-. 


•       / 


1  33  ^' 

favouraBle  winds  for  England.     We  are  mean- 
while in  good  spirite,  and  nothing  is  wanting  to  i     , 
haj)piness  except  yoi^jr  presence,  which,  I  confess, 
I  do  exceedingly  desire.  * 

I  send  you  for  your  amusement  a  short  sketch 
of  my  present  situation  and  movements. 

Our  state-room  is  nearly  as  large  as  your  room  : 
on  both  sides  is  a  small  cabin,  in  one  of  which  is 
my  bed,  and  in  the  other  that  of  captain  Foy.  In 
the  state-room  itself  are  four  dormitories,  on  each 
side,  for  captains  Hensch,  Gerlach,  and  Cleve,  and 
Lieutenant  colonel  Fricke.  The  cashier,  the 
Pay-master  General  and  the  secretary  are  in  the 
space  reserved  for  the  soldierfl^  a  private  cabin 
liaving  been  constructed  for  them. 

I  rise  towards  7  o'clock,  after  having  said  my 
prayers  in  bed.  We  immediately  make  our  toilette, 
and  breakfast,  after  the  English  manner,  on  tea 
and  bread  and  butter.  After  breakfast,  I  go  on 
deck  to  smoke  a  pipe,  and  that  over,  I  write  or  read, 
drink  coffee,  walk  up  and  down  with  the  two  Eng- 
lish officers,  and  spend  my  time  in  this  way  until 
dinner,  that  is,  2  o'clock,  smoking  occasionally 
one  or  two  pipes  more.  We  sit  down  nine  at  ta- 
ble, have  three  dishes,  which  take  nearly  an  hour. 
When  the  cloth  is  removed,  we  drink  healths  for 
half  or  three  quarters  of  an  hour,  viz.;  1.  the  King, 
3.  the  Duke,  3.  You  and  our  Children,  4.  Mrs. 


«V^«Ui 


^#» 


.^ 


M 


,*. 


Foy,  5.  good  voyage,  and,  0.  asucccsstul  expedi- 
tion to  America.  At  4  o'clock  the  dinner  is  over. 
We  drink  daily  four  bottles  of  wine,  and  half  a  bot- 
tle of  rum  serves  for  our  punch.  I  then  drink  cof- 
fee with  the  English  officers :  the  other  officers 
provide  for  themselves.  After  coffee  I  visit  the 
other  ships,  and  in  the  evening  we  play  a  game  of 
whist.  At  half  after  eight  we  have  some  cold 
meat,  wine  for  those  who  desire  it,  and  beer. 
Lastly,  at  ten  o'clock,  we  all  retire  to  rest,  and  in 
this  way,  one  day  after  another  is  spent.       •<"  • 

Captain  Foy  goes  from  Oover  to  London,  to 
make  his  report  to  the  King,  and  will  join  me  at 
Portsmouth.  I  shall  then  be  transferred  to  a  man- 
of-war,  where  every  thing  will  be  more  agreeably 
arranged.  In  this  ship,  general  Gage  returned 
from  America.  It  had  then  eight  small  cabins,  a 
state-room  for  t^e  general,  and  a  dining  room,  all 
which  conveniences  are  to  be  again  provided  for 
me.  But  of  all  this,  you  may  expect  to  hear 
more,  by  my  letter  from  Portsmouth,  as  also  of  the 
state  of  things  in  America,  and  the  means  of  our 
meeting  again,  in  the  safest  and  quickest  way. 


•-d. 


i.' 


¥ 


^ 


■.*iiis< 


nfrai  iniw..«t»»^i-.. 


I  j.m^iiiii  n" 


ir 


95 


*^<: 


LETTER  VIII.    " 


,;  •    FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 

On  board  the  Palliis,  March  22il,  1776,  at  sen,  near  th<' 
Red  Ton,  wher«  the  pilois  leave  thi-ir  ahips. 

Wc  are  now  on  the  vast  sea.  The  pilots  are  de- 
parting, and  through  them,  I  address  to  you  my  last 
letter,  from  the  coasts  of  Germany.  Fear  not,  we 
are  all  well,  and  I  hope  we  shall  reach  Spithead 
without  suffering,  and  arrive  in  America  in  perfect 
health,  after  having  once  become  accustomed  to 
the  sea. 

Foy  gives  me  hopes  of  being  near  Spithead  on 
Wednesday,  at  latest;  and  my  first  business  will 
be  to  inform  you  of  our  safe  arrival  and  of  niv 
health. 


t 


1 


i 

■i: 


LETTER  IX. 

rnOM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 

On  boanl  the  Pallas,  opposite  Dover,  March  2G,  177G. 

I  write  you  at  the  moment  we  come  in  sight  of 
the  British  coast.     Captain  Foy,  who  goes  from 


(V^i*.; :  iiX^k  : 


*,,/•.»• 


*  ■ 


i 


J^ 


V 


-m 

i* 


.t 


hence  to  London,  will  put  this  letter  in  the  Post 
Office.  I  rejoice  to  be  able  to  assure  you,  that  i 
have  not  been  sick  for  a  single  moment ;  that  my 
appetite  remains  good,  and  that  my  sleep  is  sound 
and  refreshing.  My  lervantH,  however,  and  almost 
all  the  soldiers  have  been  sick,  and  continue  so. 
The  cook  is  so  much  affected,  that  he  cannot  raise 
hi^  head,  niuph  less  attend  to  his  business.  This 
Is  somewhat  troublesome,  for  Captain  Foy  and  my- 
self are  obliged  to  supply  his  place,  the  sight  of  j 
which  would  greatly  amuse  you. 

Let  me  now  give  you  a  brief  account  of  our 
voyage.  On  Thursday  we  sailed  from  Stade  for 
Fryburg.  The  beautiful  villages  on  both  sides  of  tho 
river  presented  a  most  deliglitfiil  prospect.  We  left 
GlL'ckstadt,  a  fine  Danish  fortress,  on  the  right. 
We  were  in  excellent  spirits,  ate,  and  drank  hearti- 
ly, and  in  the  evening  had  our  game  of  whist. 

On  Friday  we  sailed  for  Ritzebiittel  or  Casha- 
ven,  where  we  arrived  in  the  evening,  and  imme- 
diately landed  to  take  a  view  of  the  city,  and  after- 
wards  played  whist,  as  usual. 

On  Saturday  we  got  under  weigh,  with  but  little 
wind.  We  felt  as  well  as  if  we  were  not  at  sea. 
We  are  all  in  excellent  health,  and  eat  with  great 
appetite.  From  the  Red  Ton,  where  the  Hanove- 
rian pilots  left  us,  I  wrote  you  my  last  letter.  In 
the  afternoon,  fishermen    from   Heligoland   ap- 


1^ 


37  ^ 


proachetl  «is,  and  for  two  dollars  I  bought  a  largo 
oodfiHJi,  twenty  haddocks  and  four  flounders,  all  of 
which  I  could  not  have  had  at  Brunswic  for  ten 
dollars.     The  weather  now  became  rainy. 

On  S.inday  morning  we  had  a  thick  fog,  and  the 
sea  became  stormy.  We  fired  two  guns  from  our 
.ship,  as  a  signal  to  the  rest  of  the  squadron.  The 
vapours  rose,  the  wind  and  the  waves  became 
more  agitated,  though  wc  had  no  real  storm.  Every 
body  was  now  sick;  the  cook  was  unable  to  go  to 
the  kitchen,  Miiller  could  not  dress  me,  and  Va- 
lentin could  find  nothing  : — in  short,  we  had  much 
lamentation,  and  little  cleanliness.  I  was  hun- 
gry, but  had  nothing  to  eat,  until  at  last  captain 
Foy  and  myself  set  ourselves  to  prepare  a  pea 
soup,  which  we  ate  with  cold  roast  beef,  and  that 
was  our  whole  dinner.  The  soldiers  took  no 
meal. 

On  Monday  the  weather  became  milder ;  some 
[of  our  people  got  better,  though  most  of  them 
still  continued  sick.  Captain  Foy  and  myself 
were  again  busy  in  the  kitchen,  with  a  soup  made 
(»f  preserved  bouillon,  a  haddock,  with  anchovy- 
sauce,  a  ragout  of  veal,  and  roast  veal  with  po- 

[tatocs. 

On  the  following  day,  wc  had  the  finest  weather 

rnnaginable,and  some  of  our  people  recovered  their 

[health.    The  soldiers  cooked  for  themselves,  for 

4 


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i 


t . 


■■ .  I 


•<■  '»• 


4 


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'4.     »■' 


"    t-    * 


<  '  '■'^' 


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38 


our  cook  was  still  sick,  and  Foy  and  myself  sup- 
plied his  place  in  the  preparation  of  our  own  meal. 
We  had  a  rice  soup,  beef  with  turnips,  codfish  with 
anchovy-sauce,  and  a  ragout  of  veal. — We  had  i 
a  distant  view  of  the  land. 

To  day — Wednesday — we  are  in  sight  of  Do- 
ver. Captain  Foy  leaves  us,  and  takes  charge  of  | 
this  letter.  Remember,  dearest  wife,  that  every  | 
body  is  liable  to  sea-sickness, — that  you  might  be 
without  the  assistance  of  any  of  your  servants  ;j 
and  that  you  ought,  therefore,  to  make  your  voy- 
age as  short  as  possible  ;^ — in  my  opinion,  that  b}i 
Calais  to  Dover  would  best  answer  your  pui-i 
pose.  .        +^ 

Captain  Foy  says,  that  should  Quebec  still  bei 
long  to  us,  and  should  no  American  troops  be  oiif 
this  side  of  Montreal,  not  only  he  but  General| 
Carleton,  also,  would  desire  his  wife  to  join  himl 
You.  must  not  depart  before  they  do :  but  if  theyj 
set  out,  you  can  accompany  them,  and  have  the! 
advantage  of  travelling  with  security,  in  goodj 
company  and  with  good  attendance :— in  a  wordj 
nothing  would  be  wanting  to  your  comfort. 


"•I 


Si.*.. 


Jj:        * 


^V 


\    . 


fJ9  ' 


4  ^ 


39 


LETTER  X. 


FBOM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


■itV: 


On  board  the  PaUas,  in  the  harbour  of 
Portsmouth,  March  28,  1776. 

\  ou  see,  my  dear  wife,  that  I  neglect  no  oppor- 
tunity of  writing  to  you.     We  are  now  in  this  har- 
bour, and  I  am  about  to  go  on  shore  to  pay  a  visit  to 
Admiral  Douglas,  and  to  the  other  general  officers, 
who,  like  us,  are  preparing  for  their  departure  to 
America.     Our  people  have  recovered  from  their 
i  sickness,  and  the  cook  has  resumed  his  functions, 
to  our  great  convenience.     You  cannot  imagine  a 
finer  spectacle  than  that  which  we  enjoyed  yester- 
I  day  morning,  at  six  o'clock,  when  we  were  near 
enough  to  Calais  to  see  distinctly  every  house,  and 
at  the  same  time,  and  as  clearly,  Dover  on  the 
British  coast.     Captain  Foy  left  us  at  nine  o'clock 
to  depart  for  London,  and  we  sailed  the  whole 
day  along  the  coast  of  England,  having  at  every 
instant  the  view  of  a  city  new  to  us,  of  r^ople  la- 
bouring in  the  fields  and  of  travellers,  who  gazed 
[with  curiosity  on  our  little  squadron.     This  lasted 
[until  niglit.     I  then  slept  quietly.     This  morning, 
[at  5  o'clock,  we  saw  Portsmouth;  at  9  we  an- 
(chored ;  and,  at  present,  are  near  landing. 


;M 


i-.if:^ 


^T"- 


'9^'->i>ii»"  9  iiwi*«|i,iji .  "■' 


:<-PMi4|Mr>w-<w  **■*  .^Mf»i..*»^***!^v'' 


^'"'*4»-' 


;,_ ,  a-'.;;™ ^'. 


fvr" 


•,^v 


■f 


% 


•ft 


LETTER  XL 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


"m 


*'.. 


On  board  the  Pallas,  between  PortsmouUi 
and  Plymouth,  April  6,  1776. 

We  sailed  from  Portsmouth  sooner  than  I  ex- 
pected. The  wind  having  become  favourable,  virc 
immediately  weighed  anchor,  and  sailed  with  the 
finest  weather  imaginable,  on  the  4th  instant,  ma- 
king a  fleet  of  thirty  vessels,  and  firing  a  salute 
with  all  our  guns,  which  was  answered  by  all 
those  of  the  squadron,  which  was  still  lying  at 
Spithead.  On  the  5th  the  wind  changed,  and 
continued  unfavourable  until  this  morning.  We 
sail  now  under  better  auspices  directly  for  Ply- 
mouth, where,  however,  we  shall  not  stop,  though 
I  hope  to  find  means  of  sending  this  letter  to  the 
town.  Thanks  to  Heaven,  your  husband  enjoys 
good  health.  Several  of  my  officers,  and  among 
them  mfJEnglish  Aid-de-Camp,  are  already  sick, 
but  I  have  a  good  appetite,  sleep  soundly,  and 
hope  to  reach  America  with  unimpaired  health. 
.  This  may  be  the  last  letter  that  you  will  re- 
ceive from  me,  until  our  arrival  in  America,  unless 
we  fall  in  witfi  some  vessel,  by  which  I  can  send 


w. 


^*.!--*v  .-*«i»  x».,|^^jJT ..—  .    .^*M">' 


LSTo 


ri^Ti^-V 


■'^f,*   ■■S'tV- 


w 


4:'. 


.^'^' 


41 


you  a  letter,  whichj^^jth  that  hope,  I  shall  con-     ^ 
stantly  keep  ready.'^'^^ 

Let' me  give  you  some  advice.  You  must  en- 
deavour to  procure  at  Brunswic  letters  of  intro- 
duction, in  order  to  find  at  London  private  lodg- 
ings, in  which  all  your  expenses  may  be  known 
and  fixed  beforehand.  In  a  public  inn,  your  ex-^.,.  *• 
penses  would  be  three  times  as  great  as  in  such  '-  , 
quarters.  I  paid  twenty-two  pounds  sterling 
(nearly  132  dollars  of  our  money)  for  seven  days' 
lodging  of  my  two  aids,  myself,  and  our  servants, 
one  dinner,  and  seven  evening  repasts, — the  din- 
ner for  twelve  persons,  the  supper  for  four. 

This  rule  you  will  do  well  to  observe  in  all  your 
halting .  places,  where  you  intend  to  remain  seve- 
ral days.  If  you  go  through  Exeter,  Plymouth, 
or  Bristol,  (in  which  latter  city  Mrs.  Foy  resides,) 
you  must  procuie  at  London'  the  addresses  of  pri- 
vate boarding-houses,  where  you  may  lodge. 
Such  houses  are  not  scarce  in  England.  I  advise 
you,  also,  to  examine  in  London,  or  elsewhere,^ 
the  vessels  generally  employed  for  the  convey- 
iince  of  passengers,  in  order  that  yoiii  may  be  able 
to  arrange  your  plans  for  your  accommodations 
beforeliand.  You  cannot  take  in  your  birth  more 
than  one  child,  another  can  remain  with  the  maid, 
and  the  youngest  must  be  kept  in  a  hammock.      ?. 

You  must  purchase,  in  London,  portable  soup» 

4*        .  ^     "'■': 


■:.:^^ 


1 1 


.;•** 


i) 


-%'• 
*"- 


I' 


■  * 


I 

i 


V 

i 


i* 


i-?*- 

^•^^i 


.'?». 


**.» 


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}^. 


.-«W 


42 


""A 


.•* 


.* 


■'>  ■  ■•it-- 


'I. 


y4~ 


^' 


'fr.   > 


•Kii. 


i\    ' 


*, 


tKat  you  and  the  children  may  not  want  a  good 
bouillon,  whenever  your  butcher's  meat  shall  be 
spent.  .  \  ■-       ,  '         I 


i^- 


LETTER  XII. 


>X, 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


^i;_ 


On  board  the  Pallas,  April  24th,  177C. 

From  the  4th  instant,  when  we  sailed  from  I 
Portsmouth,  we  have  been  on  the  open  sea,  havin^^j 
had  alternately  good  and  bad  weather,  and  having] 
experienced,  already  three  gales,  which  to  us  seem- 
ed a  little  like  hurricanes.  All  our  people  were  I 
sick,  but  I  continue' to  enjoy  good  health,  and] 
bear  admirably  all  inconveniencies.  . 

We  are  now  more  than  two  thousand  miles  from! 
Stade,  and  twelve  hundred  from  Quebec.  In  five 
or  six  days  I  hope  to  be  in  sight  of  the  coast  of  | 
Newfoundland,  and  shortly  afterwards,  to  find  our- 
selves on  the  Saint  Lawrence,  where  our  naviga- 1 
tion  will  be  more  agreeable,  and  the  number  of| 
our  sick  less. 

My  best  and  dearest  wife,  notwithstanding  my 
fond  attachment  to  you,  and  my  anxious  desire  to 


.,  ■s,.,^..,|: 


•  i-.,!**  '  .,j*. 


p 


if 


■;,Vf^>.,;|i'jj'. 


^. 


13 


.$ 


■^■ 


^ 


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If 


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;,*    4 


see  you  again,  as  soon  as  possible,  I  should  not 
advise  you  to  undertake  such  a  long  voyage,  espe- 
cially with  your  children,  had  I  not  given  you  nay 
word  that  I  would  consent  to  your  rejoining  me 
in  America,  before  I  knew  all  the  difficulties  con- 
nected with  such  a  voyage.  I  confess  that  I 
tremble  when  I  think  of  it ;  but  you  have  my  word, 
and  I  must  keep  it,  and  live  in  the  hope  that  God 
will  sanction  it  by  His  blessing.  Still  you  must 
npt  leave  Europe  alone.  Wait  for  Mrs.  Foy,  or 
some  other  lady  of  rank,  with  whom  you  may  em- 
bark in  the  same  ship, — ^but  it  must  be  a  person 
who  has  already  been  in  America,  and  knows  all 
the  precautions  necessary  in  undertaking  such  a 
voyage ;  and  who  may  be  able  to  advise  and  assist 
you,  in  case  you  or  your  children  should  be  taken 
sick.  You  must  know,  my  dear  wife,  that  you 
and  your  children,  and  every  one  of  your  ser- 
vants, may  be  sea-^sick,  if  not  constantly,  yet  du- 
ring strong  winds.  In  my  ship,  there  are  not  five 
persons  who  have  not  been  sick  for  more  or  less 
I  time,  and  every  one  wonders  that  my  health  has  . 
continued  good.  You  run,  therefore,  the  risk  of 
lying  sick  in  bed  with  your  children,  without  the 
least  assistance,  and  without  any  thing  to  eat  or 
to  drink.  A  ship's  company  generally  consists  oi 
filthy  and  coarse  -people,  whose  chief  food  is  salt 
meat,  half  done,  and  scarcely  eatable.     The  wa- 


^.^ 


>^^ 


^: 


f.. 


r 


.&. 


"h' 


■  ■M 


.-r^ 


I 


'P 


V 


f 


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■■'■        :,f^ 


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f 


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'4 


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44      ' 


^      I; 


tqr,  after  a  short  time,  becomes  so  bad  and  nau- 
seous, that  it  is  impossible  to  drink  j^.  You  must, 
therefore,  procure  a  stone  for  filtering  it,  and  ac- 
custom the  .children  to  drink  beer,  or  have  the 
water  for  your  daily  consumption,  for  awhile,  near 
the  fire.  Unfortunately  my  poor  cook  is  almost 
constantly  sick.  For  many  days  we  have  been  at 
a>  loss  on  what  to  live.  Our  fresh  meat  is  gone ; 
and  we  are  reduced  to  salt  meat  and  poultry.  We 
shall  soon  begin  to  kill  our  sheep.  The  worst  of 
it  is,  that  through  the  sickness  of  our  cook,  j^o- 
body  attends  to  the  preservation  of  our  victuals, 
and  that,  consequently,  tliey  are  partly  wasted, 
Und  partly  purloinej.  In  one  word,  I  could  not, 
without  deceiving  you,  represent  such  an  exist- 
ence as  an  agreeable  one.  It  is  still  very  fortu- 
nate for  me,  that  I  enjoy  good  health,  and  that  J 
am  able  to.  endure  with  patience  so  many  incon- 


veniences. 


■f-^M 


■4m^*- 


n 


m. 


LETTER  XIIL  ^  1 

FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME.  /^ 

On  board  the  Pallas,  two  leagues  from  Quebec,  June  1, 1776. 

^  I  cannot  tell  you  much  of  our  voyage  j  for  what 
eari  be  said  of  nine  weeks  spent  between  heaven  and 


-V-  s 


:r.--'-7v-'- 

i 

■• 

1  ■ 

// 

■^y  ,.• 


M 

."^•^^r 


-M^ 


#..*■ 


^.', 
^ 


if   *. 


45 


'Jlf 


the  deep  ocean,  where  our  days  passed  away  pretty 
much  in  the  same  monotonous  manner?  We  are 
now,  after  much  suffering,  two  leagues  distant  from 
Quebec,  where  we  shall  arrive  this  evening,  but 
where  we  shall  not  make  any  stay,  general  Carle- 
ton  having,  before  our  arrival,  driven  the  rebels 
from  the  environs  of  Quebec,  and  being  at  pre- 
sent engaged  in  their  pursuit.  We  shall,  there- 
fore, continue  our  navigation  up  the  river  until  we 
join  the  general.  I  cannot  yet  give  you  any  di- 
rection with  r^spec'  to  your  voyage.  Captain 
Fpy  thinks  that  it  is  indispensable  to  know  pre- 
viously where  we  shall  be  ourselves.  I  can,  there- 
fore, only  advise  you  not  to  embark  alone,  and  not 
depart  except  in  company  with  a  lady  of  rank,  be' 
it  the  wife  of  general  Carleton,  or  Mrs.  Foy,  or 
any  other  lady. — I  muSt  conclude  my  letter,  as  it 
must  be  sent  to  the  ship,  where  care  will  be  taken 
that  it  is  forwarded.  As  soon  as  I  shall  have 
joined  general  Carleton,  I  will  give  you  more  de- 
tailed information  about  myself,  the  situation  of 
our  affairs,  and  respecting  your  voyage.         * 


R^ 


.  itr- 


■■\M^'' 


-M 


,>.-«.  ,-'i^ 


f'-m.s.mt^  iH»   ■«!»  «  •*»  1 


«*^.<,.^..   .„.M*»W*#'»~--- 


«*>- 


'■i^ 


^1  f  ■-. 


•^ 


46^ 


LETTER  XIV. 


*;■? 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


«-?d 


Between  Quebec  and  Montreal,  June  0,  1776. 

I  shall  now  relate  to  you  briefly  all  that  has 
occurred  since  our  arrival  at  Quebec  on  the  1st 
instant.  We  were  near  that  city  on  that  day,  at 
C  o'clock  in  the  evening.  I  went  on  shore  imme- 
diately to  pay  a  visit  to  general  Carleton,  who  re- 
ceived me  with  much  civility  and  friendship,  and 
invited  me  to  dine  with  hini  on  the  following  day. 
To  form  an  idea  of  his  personal  appearance,  you 
need  only  recollect  the  figure  of  the  Abbe  Jeru- 
salem :*  the  same  stature,  the  same  countenance, 
the  same  carriage,  the  same  voice ;  and  were  the 
general  dressed  in  a  black  coat,  and  had  he  a  wig, 
there  would  be  no  difference  between  them. 

On  the  2d,  after  having  dined  at  the  general's, 
I  went  to  see  the  prisoners  taken  from  the  rebels. 
In  the  evening  I  waited  upon  commodore  Doug- 
las, who  conunands  the   squadron.     On  my  re- 


O*    '•' 


-ftA^^ 


Ti'  *  The  father  of  the  young  man  whose  adventures  served  in 
part  as  the  ground  work  of  "  The  Sorrows  of  Werlhcr."  See 
Goethe's  memoirs  of  himself. 


n 


ii 


"^-1   -%i"  nim  '• 


•*— -™ — "IIPP" 


47 


■^1 


t.- 


tiring  from  his  ship,  a  salute  of  thirteen  guns  was 
fired  in  honour  of  me. 

I  passed  the  third,  vhich  was  my  birthday,  on 
board  my  ship.  I  was  not  much  pleased  to  re- 
ceive, from  general  Carleton  an  order  to  leave  my 
dragoons  and  prince  Henry's  regiment  in  garri- 
son at  duebec. — Captain  Foy  was  this  day  ap- 
pointed adjutant-general  and  military  secretary  to 
general  Carleton. 

On  the  4th,  the  king's  birthday,  I  waited,  with 
all  the  officers  under  my  command,  on  the  general, 
to  present  him  our  congratulations.  The  guns  of 
the  fortress,  and  all  the  vessels,  fired  salutes,  and 
in  the  evening  we  had  a  ball. 

The  next  day  general  Carleton  conferred  upon 
me  the  command  of  a  separate  body  of  troops. 
This  was  quite  unexpected  to  me,  and  has  excited 
much  notice. 

On  the  sixth,  I  received  my  last  orders  from  the 
commander-in-chief,  and,  the  wind  being  favoura- 
ble, I  embarked  with  my  troops.  We  are  now  on 
the  shore  of  Lake  Champlain,  but  you  have  no- 
thing to  fear  for  us  from  the  enemy.  He  has  dis- 
appeared, and  we  have  seen  no  living  trace  of  him 
this  side  of  the  lake. 

My  dearest,  no  place  would  suit  you  better  than 
Quebec.  If  you  choose,  you  can  go  as  far  as 
Montreal,  and  there  receive  directions  from  mo. 


"  % 


m 


# 


■V-v 


i.*t- 


* 


,'/' 


■  -.  I-  f-.--  »^ 


A- 


■■» 


u 


4 

r 


48 


^1 

m 


Tor  your  farther  movements.  In  the  latter  city, 
you  will  find  such  means  of  conveyance  as  will 
enable  you  to  move  without  difficulty,  by  land, 
from  one  place  to  another.  I  will  take  care  that 
you  shall  find  all  possible  conveniences  in  Mon- 
treal. You  will  be  much  pleased  with  Canada: 
there  is  not  a  finer  country  in  the  world. 


'%' 


%1 


.^\ 


LETTER  XV. 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


»:*• 


La  Prairie,  June  20,  1776. 

I  have  lately  given  you  a  detailed  account  ol 
our  arrival  at  Quebec.  From  thence  we  went  to 
Three  Rivers,  but  I,  as  well  as  all  the  other  gene- 
rals, arrived  too  late  for  the  encounter  which 
took  place  near  that  city.  We  advanced  farther  I 
with  our  vessels,  and  landed  at  Vergennes.  Our 
march  was  rather  fatiguing,  until  we  reached  La 
Prairie ;  but  at  present  we  enjoy  some  rest.  All 
my  baggage  has  arrived,  and  we  live  well,  but 
expensively.  We  ordinarily  sit  down  at  table 
twelve  persons,  and  have  six  dishes.  This  costs 
me  at  least  two  guineas  a  day.     A  bottle  of  wine 


^: 


•^ 


^'^ 


IV 


49 


costs  a  dollar  of  our  money.  I  ain  here  alouf 
with  all  the  German  troops.  General  Carleton 
seems  well  disposed  towards  me ;  he  distinguishes 
me  extremely,  and,  if  things  continue  in  this 
way,  I  shall  hove  reason  to  be  well  satisfied.  I 
hope  the  war  will  not  last  long.  We  have  alrea- 
dy conquered  all  Canada,  and  shall,  as  soon  as  the 
boats  are  ready,  penetrate  into  New-England  by 
way  of  Lake  Champlain.  New-England  is  the 
rendezvous  of  all  the  rebels ;  but  general  Howe 
is  there,  and,  it  is  said,  has  already  obtained  some 
advantages  over  them.  I  shall  endeavour  to  carry 
you  back  in  my  ship,  where  you  will  be  better 
accommodated  in  every  respect,  for  I  am  now 
somewhat  more  conversant  with  the  life  at  sea, 
and  know  how  to  remedy  many  evils  connected 
with  it. 

If  you  undertake  the  voyage,  you  will  find  at 
Quebec  lieutenant-colonel  Baum,  with  the  dra- 
goons, who  has  already  made  arrangements  to 
procure  good  lodgings  for  you.  You  will  imme- 
diately write  to  me,  and  rest  for  some  days  at 
Quebec.  After  this  you  will  set  out  for  Throe 
Rivers,  which  is  rather  a  pretty  town,  and  where 
you  will  lodge  in  the  same  house  which  general 
Carleton  has  occupied.  Three  Rivers  is  thirty 
leagues  from  Quebec,  and  you  are  then  at  the 
same  distance  from  Mo'^treal,  where  vou  will  see 


5 


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'# 


me,  or  find  my  farther  directions.  You  will  be 
delighted  with  that  part  of  the  country :  it  is  a 
pity  that  the  colonies  are  yet  in  such  an  infant 
state,  that  one  can  but  seldom  procure  what  is 
necessary  for  the  table,  as,  for  example,  vegeta- 
bles, fruit,  and  such  things ;  but  butcher's  meat, 
poultry,  and  milk,  can  be  had  in  abundance.  The 
houses  are  but  one  story  high,  but  are  divided  into 
many  rooms,  and  arc,  generally,  very  neat.  An 
ordinary  peasant's  house  is  capacious  enough  for 
our  whole  family.  The  inhabitants  are  remarka- 
bly civil  and  obliging,  and  I  hardly  think  that, 
under  similar  circumstances,  our  peasants  would 
behave  as  well.  I  have  nothing  else  to  tell  you. 
We  are  here  very  quiet.  General  Carleton  is 
with  part  of  the  army  at  Chambly ,  /General  Era- 
ser is  at  St.  John ;  and  I  am  here,  and  travel  in 
the  neighbourhood,  to  make  myself  acquainted 
with  the  country. — I  dine  at  3  o'clock ;  and,  ge- 
nerally, go  rather  fatigued  to  bed.  At  3  or  4 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  I  am  again  abroad.  Near- 1 
ly  a  month  may  yet  elapse  before  we  pass  Lake 
Champlain. 


>)  t  ■ 


\i  \ 


:^-'.^ 


''i0' 


*: 


5J 


■4^' 


^' 


LETTER  XVI.  j, 


FROM  THE  SAM£  TO  THE  SAME. 


'* 


■*• 


Lu  Savannc,  Sept.  I'i,  1770. 

Tlie  army  is  encamped  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
maining united.  I  occupy  an  excellent  position, 
at  a  place  called  Savanne ;  and,  as  I  command  a 
separate  corps,  I  have  always  a  great  deal  of  work 
on  hand,  and  must  continually  move  about.  This 
has  a  very  good  effect  on  my  health.  The  nights 
begin  to  be  cool :  we  think  and  even  talk  of  our 
winter  quarters  already,  into  which  we  shall  pro- 
bably enter  within  the  next  month.  How  much  I 
should  rejoice  if  I  could  then  enjoy  your  society 
and  that  of  our  children  !  I  know,  indeed,  of  no 
greater  happiness.  But  where  are  you  now? 
Perhaps  at  sea ;  perhaps  in  great  danger !  Oh  ! 
how  often  do  such  thoughts  occupy  my  mind  du- 
ring whole  niffhts !  I  hope  that  God  will  soon 
end  my  an^  ties,  and  grant  me  the  happiness  of 
holding  vou  in  my  arms.  On  the  4th  instant,  af- 
ter the  exercise  of  our  troops,  general  Carleton, 
and  the  principal  officers  of  the  army,  dined  with 
me.  We  were  thirty-six  persons,  and  had  twen- 
ty-six courses,  served  twice.  My  guests  seemed 
gratified  by  the  hospitality  which  I  displayed  on 


t  *> 


,* 


A 


ik-.% 


;iK 


.  .  r,  J^ii'L    ...  ..  _ 


V*. 


-.;»■§• 


H' 


'*'^^ 


52 


I 


^■ 


■»: 


.'Sfe 


:t 


that  occasion,  for  the  honour  of  the  king,  and  to 
gratify  his  majesty's  army.  My  success  is  com- 
plete, i^t  I  am  on  a  good  footing  with  every 


^ 


*.:i^ 


'^: 


V 


■*- 


i  im-^ 


r*.  "^ 


<*f- 


iS**f: 


'■J.: 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 

►■  ■  ■  ,      .'-J 

'From  the  camp  at  La  Savanne,  Sept.  231, 1'Zl'e. 

I  have  at  last  received,  my  dear  wife,  your  let-^ 
ters  of  the  9th,  13th,  20th,  and  30th  of  April,  and 
12th  of  May.  Each  of  them  has  given  me  a 
great  deal  of  pleasure,  and  I  thank  God  for  the 
good  health  you  and  our  children  have  enjoyed. 
I  embrace  you  all  most  cordially.  I  was,  also, 
very  much  gratified  by  the  indirect  news  I  re- 
ceived of  you  through  England,  and  am  thankful 

>  that  Providence  has  so  far  prospered  your  voyage. 
According  to  the  news  I  have  at  present,  you  must 
have  reached  London,  towards  the  12th,  and,  on 
the  18th,  departed  for  Bristol ;  and  you,  as  well 
as  our  children,  were  then  in  perfect  health. 
O'Connel,  who  was  despatched  to  London  by  cole- 

„ncl  Specht,  has  conversed  with  the  landlord  of 

%.^'" 


% 


the  inn  vi 
Bristol  oi 
don.  I 
shall  des 
country, 
liver  it  tc 
and  to  gi 
tranquilli 
val  at  Qi 
informati 
Rivers,  w 


,  >.=» 


We  ha 
and  tak( 
shall  now 
is  at  an  e 
where 
you  with 
I  should 
The  wint 

' .  ■.,*tv» 


'■$it 


.i.«»'*N«  >    ««k4^^. 


'♦kW*^**  - 


■J^, 


(-    / 


53 


'■#1 


the  inn  where  you  lodged,  and  you  had  set  out  for 
Bristol  only  three  hours  before  he  arrived  in  Lon- 
don.   I  do  not  direct  this  letter  to  England,  but 
shall  despatch  it  by  the  first  vessel  bound  to  that 
country,  with  an  injunction  to  the  captain,  to  de-  - 
liver  it  to  you  if  he  should  fall  in  with  your  ship, 
and  io  give  all  the  news  which  may  contribute  to 
tranquillize  you  about  my  health.     On  your  arri- 
val at  Quebec,  Mrs  Murray  will  give  you  farther  /^L    *^ 
information.     My  winter  quarters  will  be  at  Three    ?  ^2 
Rivers,  where  you  may  quietly-await  my  return. 


^^ 


r    _    jjj,  ■        .'_  ■■■'  *   '. 

LETTER  XVIIL 


■•.»'; 


T*f:^ 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


'■'K;>iic. 


.;>«!. 


■0 


'  Crown  Point,  on  board  the  Washington,  a  vdsslfe- 

taken  from  the  rebels,  Oct.  26th,  1776.  * 

We  have  destroyed  the  squadron  of  the  rebels, 
and  taken  possession  of  Crown  Point.  We 
shall  now  go  into  winter  quarters.  Our  campaign 
is  at  an  end,  and  I  shall  return  to  Three  Rivers, 
where  I  have  my  quarters,  and  shall  wait  for 
you  with  the  greatest  impatience.  How  happy 
I  should  be  if  you  could  yet  join  me  this  winter ! 
The  winter-quarters  will  probably  be  undisturbed, 

6*  w 


^ 


^:'m 


^ 

/s;^ 


■'%. 


T    -  1  i 


w 


/^., 


■I*^>: 


.  ^ijliJidtiiaaA^ia 


1.  -^'y 


# 
^ 


''  "'"'A  ' 


# 


54 


and  I  should  be  able  to  spend  with  you  almost  all 
my  ^ime.  /General  Carleton  has  hercacally  at- 
tacked the  enemy's  fleet,  leaving  behind  him  the 
whole  army.  He  has  carefully  spared  the  fatlu.rs 
of  families,  and  if  the  war  is  carried  on  in  the  same 
manner  next  year,  I  shall  be  in  the  midst  of  it, 
surer  of  my  life,  than  when  exercising  the  troops 
in  the  squares  of  Wolfenbiittel  and  Brunswic. 
-General  Burgoyne,  who  takes  charge  of  this  let- 
ter, will  do  his  best  to  cause  it  to  be  delivered  to 
you  at  sea,  if  you  are  still  on  the  ocean,  but  if  you 
are  in  England,  he  will  spare  no  pains  to  procure 
for  you,  next  spring,  a  passage  in  a  good  ship,  and 
you  need  only  write  to  hu.i. 

I  have  been  here  for  six  days,  as  a  volunteer. 
We  have  been  very  near  the  camp  of  the  rebels, 
at  Fort  Carillon,  and  have  made  some  prisoners. 


•■;^ 


FROM 


1^': 


LETTER  XIX. 

FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME.- 

Three  Rivers,  Nov.  10,  ITTU. 

1  have  now  little  hope  of  seeing  you  during  the 
ensuing  winter,  and,  therefore,  address  you  this 
letter,  in  order  that,  if  you  are  still  in  England, 
you  may  not  be  without  news  of  me. 


My  o\ 
[made  me  I 
seem  thai 
in  some 
ness  andl 
obliged, 
[disobey 


^ 


-.-^r^^yf^.-r  ■ 


55 


I  am,  thank  God,  well;  but  extremely  anxious 
about  you,  not  knowing  where  you  are.  I  shall 
not,  however,  complain,  if  you  do  not  come,  what- 
ever pleasure  I  should  have  experienced  in  seeing 
you  here.  My  uncertainty  about  your  place  ol" 
residence,  in  this  season,  is  the  principal  cause  of 
my  uneasiness.  I  must  conclude  in  order  that 
my  letter  may  go  by  the  mail  of  to  day  for  Que- 
bec. I  entrust  you  to  the  care  and  protection  of 
the  Almighty,  embrace  you  and  oi-r  dear  little 
ones,  and  fondly  indulge  the  hopc^,  that  you  will 
he  here  next  spring  at  latest.  ;    i  ,>  r 


:a'S'r^* 


LETTER  XX. 


FROM  MADAM  BE  PIEDESEL  TO  HER  MOTHER. 


M 


Wolfenbiittel,  March  8,  1770. 

My  own  dear  mother, — Your  last  letter  has 
I  made  me  very  uneasy.  By  some  passages  it  would 
jseem  that  you  are  angry  with  your  daughter;  and, 
I  in  some  others,  you  show  me  again  so  much  kind- 
ness and  affection,  that  I  am  very  sorry  to  be 
I  obliged,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  willingly  to 
disobey  you.     Be  assured  that,  had  it  been  possi- 


^-' 


*■* 


■*-' 


■-0' 


•■a 


...i..^;. 


*i  '     '  ■*  tI  , 


56 


r 

■f. 


v/i^- 


ble  to  shake  my  resolution,  it  would  have  been 
through  the  delightful  prospect  of  seeing  you 
here.  But  I  knew  myself  too  well,  not  to  foresee 
how  painful  it  would  be  to  leave  you,  and  refuse 
you  any  thing ;  wherefore,  in  my  last  letter  but 
one,  I  omitted  to  entfeat  you  to  come  to  see  me. 
I  could  not,  indeed,  bear  the  thought  of  parting 
with  you,  especially  for  so  long  a  time.  Yet  the  I 
reflection  that  you  should  beg — command  me  to 
comply  with  youv  wishes,  made  me  shudder.  '  On ! 
the  other  hand,  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  remain 
here,  while  the  best,  the  fondest  of  husbands  had  | 
consented  that  I  should  follow  him.  Duty,  love, 
and  conscience  carried  me  away.  Is  it  not  tho 
duty  of  a  woman  to  forsake  every  thing  for  her  hus- 
band *?  You  know  my  love  for  you,  as  well  as  his 
for  me  and  my  children. 


'^ 


LETTER  XXI.  -^ 


5^ 


>  .^ 


TROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SAME. 


Wolfenbuttel,  May  3d,  177C. 

Oh !  could  you  know  the  pleasure  I  felt  to  sec 
by  your  letter,  that  you  begin  to  be  reconciled  to 
the  necessity  of  my  leaving  you.    My  satisfaction 


.1^ 


m*' 


ii^ 


A- 


57 


is  now  complete,  and  I  have  the  approbation  of 
u'l  for  obeying  the  calls  of  my  duty.  Yet  I  de- 
part with  the  strongest  hope,  that  God,  who  knows 
my  heart,  and  to  whom  all  my  thoughts  are 
known,  will  protect  me  and  my  children.  The 
only  thing  that  troubles  me  is  to  pari  frqm  you, 
dearest,  kindest  mother ;  but  I  trust  that  it  will  be 
but  for  a  short  time  :  perhaps  Heaven  will  grant 
us  again  the  blessing  of  peace,  and  then  we  may 
live  with  more  quiet.  May  we  have  God^s  bless- 
ing. If  you  pray  to  him,  dear  mother,  for  us  and 
lour  children,  we  shall  surely  prosper.  On  my 
'part,  my  most  fervent  wishes  and  daily  prayers 
will  be,  that  the  Almighty  may  preserve  you,  dear- 
est mother,  and  give  you  all  possible  felicity. 
Keep  us  in  your  love,  and  we  shall  ever  remember 
you  with  the  fondest  attachment  and  deepest 
veneration.  Have  the  goodness  to  write  me 
once  more,  and  assure  me  again  of  yoar  affection. 
If  you  immediately  grant  me  that  favour,  your  let- 
ter would  yet  reach  me  before  my  departure, 
[which  is  fixed  on  the  18th  insiant,  if  we  keep  our 
health.  You  will  be  pleased  afterwards  to  ad- 
dress your  letters  to  Bristol,  where  I  shall  wait  for 
verbal  intelligence  from  my  husband, 


-#: 


'  -M 


#^; 


^■M"  - 


±i^ 


'i^*!* 
>^^ 


.        ^      i 


i: 


\. 


58 


t,. 


'% 


Madam  de  RiedeseVs  Account  of  her  Journey  from 
Wolfenhiittel  to  Bristol. 

4fel  departed,  on  the  14th  of  May  1776,  at  oi 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  from  Wolfenhiittel,  and 
notwithstanding  my  anxious  desire  to  meet  again 
with  my  husband,  I  could  not  but  be  alarmed  ai 
the  difficulties  of  my  undertaking,  especially  as, 
for  some  time,  I  had  constantly  been  kept  alive 
to  the  dangers  to  which  I  exposed  myself.  M) 
«  eldest  daughter,  Gustava,  was  four  years  and  nine 
months  <,'d;  Frederica,  my  second  daughter,  was 
two  years  old ;  and  Carolina  was  born  but  ten  I 
%  weeks  before  my  departure.  I  needed  all  my 
>^ourage  and  tenderness  to  keep  my  resolution  ot 
following  my  husband.  Besides  the  perils  of  the 
sea,  I  was  told  that  we  were  exposed  to  be  eaten 
by  the  savages,  and  that  people  in  America  lived 
upon  horse-flesh  and  cats.  Yet  all  this  frightened 
me  less,  than  the  idea  of  going  into  a  country] 
with  the  language  of  which  I  was  not  conver- 
sant. I  had,  however,  made  up  my  mind;  and  the'| 
prospect  of  seeing  my  husband,   and  the   con- 


W 


♦ 


■r  >, 


•'.  -'-.;/;  .%>■  "■^  ■■"/  T^-"  jtj- 


#f      ' 


W  . 


J?fe- 


^■!!^ 


^*« 


59 


gciousness  of  doing  my  duty,  has  preserved  me 
during  my  whole  voyage  from  despondency. 

At  our  first  halt,  my  good  old  Rocke])  observed 
to  me,  in  a  tone  of  serious,  conviction,  while  he 
took  the  children  out  of  the  carriage,  "  You  see, 
madam,  how  God  prospers  your  journej  our  child- 
ren look  better  than  ever."  This  man  had  been 
with  us  eight  years,  when  my  fs  ther  appointed  him 
forester.  As  soon  as  he  heard  of  my  husband's  de- 
parture, and  of  my  intention  of  rejoining  him,  he 
forsook  every  thing  to  follow  me  in  the  capacity 
of  a  servant,  and  has  not  ceased,  during  our  whole 
journey,  to  show  us  the  strongest  attachment  and 
greatest  zeal,  especially  in  regard  to  the  children, 
whom  he  considered  it  as  his  duty  to  take  care  of, 
and  bear  in  his  arms.  In  the  first  inn  where  we 
were  to  dine,  I  met  with  an  extremely  rude  land- 
lord. While  tlie  horses  were  in  the  stable,  I  took 
a  beer-soup,  for  which  he  asked  ten  "  groschen."* 
To  my  observation  on  this  exorbitant  demand,  he 
answered  saucily,  that  it  was  the  price,  ai:d  that 
nobody  had  obliged  me  to  alight  at  his  inn;  that 
I  might  think  he  was  insolent,  but  that  I  should 
find  ruder  ones,  who  would   ask  six  tim^s  as 


wi  i 


it^^r 


"t 


f# 


''^  Twenty-foiU'  groschen  make  a  Prussian  dollar. 


"«4-- 


..  -*  *"■ 


'^.'■«1Ea 


L&:, 


Y»        V 


^W   ■  ^  ■ 


60 


> 

i 


«lf- 


much  as  he  did.  A  fine  consolation  for  one  who 
had  determined  to  spend  as  little  as  possible! 
At  Maestricht  I  was  advised  to  be  on  my  guard, 
the  roads  being  infested  by  robbers,  one  hundred  and 
thirty  of  whom  had  been  recently  taken  and  execu- 
ted. There  remains  yet  a  band  of  nearly  four  hundred 
men,  any  of  whom,  who  should  be  seized,  would 
be  hanged  without  much  ceremony,  even  on  the 
high  road.  This  news  was  not  a  little  alarming 
to  me,  and  I  determined  not  to  travel  by  night; 
but  the  horses  which  could  be  procured  being 
^  very  bad,  I  was  obliged  to  pass  the  forests  at 
dusk,  when  all  at  once  something  fle^/,  as  it  were, 
in  my  face,  through  the  glasses  of  my  carriage. 
I  stretched  out  my  hand,  and  feeling  that  it  was 
something  rough,  I  inquired  what  it  could  be. 
On  examination,  it  was  discovered  to  be  the 
corpse  of  a  hanged  man,  with  his  woollen  stock- 
ings on.  My  terror,  at  this  discovery,  became  still 
greater  when  my  postillion  suddenly  st  jpped  be- 
fore an  insulated  house  in  the  woods,  declaring 
that  he  would  go  no  farther.  The  name  of  that 
spot  was  Hune, — a  namis  which  I  shall  never  for- 
get. A  man  of  a  suspicious  appearance  re- 
ceived us,  and  conducted  us  into  a  remote  room, 
which  contained  no  other  furniture  than  a  single 
bed.     The  weather  being  cold,  I  caused  a  fire  to 


V3 


% 


^ 


r 


61 


be  made  in  the  large  chimney.  Our  supper  con- 
sisted of  tea  and  coarse  bread.  My  faithful  ser- 
vant approached  me  with  a  very  perplexed  counte- 
nance, saying,  "  Things  are  not  quite  right  in  this 
place.  I  observe  there  a  closet  full  of  arms,  and 
apprehend  that  most  of  the  inmates  are  absent, 
and  they  are  surely  robbers.  But  I  will  lie  the 
whole  night  before  the  door  of  your  room,  and 
they  shall  pay  dearly  for  any  attempt  on  my  life." 
I  seated  myself  on  a  chair,  and  laid  my  head  on 
the  couch  that  was  assigned  to  me.  However,  I 
fell  asleep ;  and  how  great  wr.s  my  joy  when,  on 
awaking,  I  was  informed  that  every  thing  was 
ready  for  our  departure  !  I  stretched  my  head  out 
of  the  window,  and  saw  the  wood  peopled  with 
nightingales,  which,  by  their  agreeable  song,  soon 
effaced  from  my  memory  all  recollection  of  for- 
mer anxieties.  My  journey  was  upon  the  whole 
very  fortunate.  I  passed  through  Brussels,  Tour- 
nay,  and  St.  Omer;  at  which  latter  place  I  ar- 
rived on  the  31st  of  May,  at  1  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon. Between  the  two  hotter  cities  lies  Cassel, 
near  which  is  a  mountain,  from  which  I  could  sur- 
vey two  and  thirty  towns,  exclusive  of  villages.  It 
is  one  of  the  finest  landscapes  that  can  be  ima- 
gined. Immediately  after  my  crrival  at  Calais, 
I  sent  for  a  ship-captain,  to  make  my  arrange- 

6 


r 


« 


:l 


** 


»■* 


^  .'^.. 


.*#■ 


_,iy*.j-'^^./.j.r4ii,i . 


^»• 


r-Tiu 


G2 


!•■ 


it' 


irt 


tncnts  for  my  passage  to  England.  I  was  advised 
to  aire  a  packet-boat  for  ourselves ;  and  I  left  my 
carriage  at  Calais,  because  I  was  told  that  I  should 
be  obliged  to  pay  at  Dover  a  tax  of  thirty  or  sixty 
guineas,  if  I  entered  England  in  a  coach  built  in  a 
foreign  country.  Contrary  winds  detained  me  for 
two  days  at  Calais.  At  last  I  was  sent  for  from 
the  ship.  At  that  moment,  I  confess,  the  palpita- 
tions of  my  heart  were  rather  stronger  than  usual. 
My  two  eldest  children  were  quite  merry ;  for  I 
had  told  them,  with  a  view  to  increase  theu:  cou- 
rage, that  they  would  see  their  father,  as  soon  as 
we  should  be  on  the  other  side  of  the  channel..  I 
affected  great  courage  ;  and  we  went  in  our  car- 
riage to  the  embarking-place,  where  the  boatmen 
already  waited  for  us,  and  taking  the  two  eldest 
children  in  their  arms,  carried  them  immed  ately  on 
board  the  ship.  I  held  the  babe  in  my  ow.vj  arms, 
and  my  servants  followed  me  on  foot.  When  I 
looked  around  for  the  man  with  my  children,  I  saw 
them  already  on  board  the  jhip,  sporting  with  the 
sailors.  The  youngest  one  was  then  carried  on 
board,  and,  from  that  moment,  the  vessel  lost  in 
my  eyes  all  its  terrors.  The  ship  was,  besides, 
very  clean  and  neat,  and  the  sailors  looked  happy. 
I  had  a  very  neat  cabin,  provided  with  eight  births  : 
all  the  furniture  was  of  mahogany,  inlaid  with 


?^^ 


A 


L>::ff.¥i  ■■■/..  :¥,juj.u  ■: 


63 


bronze,  and  so  well  polished,  that  one  could  al- 
most use  them  for  mirrors.  We  were  invited,  my 
children  and  myself,  to  lay  ourselves  on  the  beds, 
but  we  preferred  walking  on  the  deck,  and  ate  and 
drank  with  excellent  appetite.  My  daughter 
Frederic  a  became  soon  so  well  acquainted  with 
the  sailors,  that  when  she  wished  to  go  down  or 
up,  she  called  out  to  any  one  of  them,  "  Friend, 
your  arm."  These  people  are  very  fond  of  child- 
ren, and  understand  well  how  to  attend  them. 
One  of  them  took  up  little  Carolina,  carried  her 
about,  and  took  care  of  her.  It  was  diverting  to 
see  him,  a  tall,  weather  beaten  fellow,  with  a  little 
girl  constantly  laughing  in  his  face.  We  all  re- 
mained in  good  health.  The  captain  said,  that, 
for  a  long  time,  he  h.id  not  had  so  fine  weather. 
Yet  the  wind,  though  favourable,  was  rather 
strong.  We  made  our  passage  in  five  hours.  As 
the  tide  would  have  prevented  our  landing,  until 
8  or  9  o'clock,  we  determined  to  take  a  small  boat, 
which  carried  us  on  shore  in  six  minutes.  My 
heart  was  filled  with  thankful  feelings  toward 
God,  who  had  so  highly  favoured  our  voyage,  and 
kindled  at  the  inward  thought,  "  You  will  carry 
your  children  in  good  health  to  your  husband." 
But  they  cried  for  their  father,  which  damped  my 
joy.  I  tranquillized  them,  by  saying,  that  we  must 
first  embark  again  j  upon  which  they  teazed  mo, 


j-.-nRu 


-?Ji 


I. 


T 

A. 

■f    v'; 


■,f- 


»«»-••-* 

^j^' 


1 


I 


■■■■   \ 


Gi 


'  I 


and  could  not  be  kept  quiet  whenever  th%  saw  j 
ship. 

On  our  landing  at  Dover,  we  received  many 
congratulations,  on  having  supported  so  well  the 
fatigues  of  so  long  a  voyage :  but  this  cost  money, 
I  was  accosted  by  more  than  thirty  innkeepers, 
who  all  begged  me  to  take  lodgings  at  their 
houses.  I  gave  the  preference  to  a  French  hotel, 
and  was  much  pleased  with  it.  It  was  a  splendid 
establishment,  and  particularly  remarkable  for' its 
extreme  cleanliness.  The  custom-house  officers 
came  to  visit  the  baggage,  which  was  rather  an 
irksome  busines  •  but  I  was  provided  with  letters 
for  the  collector,  who,  as  soon  as  he  was  informed 
that  the  purpose  of  my  voyage  was  to  rejoin  my 
husband  in  America,  politely  observed,  that  it 
would  be  very  rude  to  vex  the  wife  of  a  general,  who 
had  gone  so  far  for  the  service  of  his  king.  This 
settled  the  matter.  Having  been  obliged  to  leave 
my  carriage  at  Calais,  I  found  it  necessary  to  take 
here  a  post-chaise  for  my  journey  to  London — a 
mode  of  travelling,  which  is  very  expensive,  as 
the  transportation  of  the  baggage  is  regulated  ac- 
cording to  its  weight. 

I  reached  London  on  the  evening  of  the  1st  oi 
June,  and  found  many  of  my  acquaintance  there, 
among  whom  were  general  Schlieffen,  Mr.  de 
Kurtzleben,  and  Count  Taube.    My  husband  had 


t--.  ..»*. .'..'  -«.« 


..«R. 


..t-,.^^ 


I'*., 


fv 


65 

written  to  tho  latter,  begging  him  to  pre  sure  for 
ine  privnt^'  lodgings ;  but,  for  fear  I  should  not 
come,  he  had  given  himself  no  trouble  about  it, 
by  which  I  might  have  had  bftter  and  cheaper 
accommodations.  I  was,  however,  happy  to  see 
how  much  interest  my  husband  had  taken  in  my 
voyage',  and  how  sure  he  was  that  \  should  keep 
my  resolution,  and  I  rejoiced  so  much  the  more 
that  I  did  not  yield  to  the  apprehensicms  with 
which  somte  persons  endeavoured  to  impress  me. 

I  must  now  mention  a  circumstance,  which  ren- 
dered my  lodgings  here  rather  disagreeable.  ) 
had  trusted  entirely  to  my  landlord  at  Calans,  to 
whom  I  had  been  recommended  ;  but  now  i  think 
that  he  abused  my  confidence,  by  sending  over  1o 
England  many  things  at  my  expense.  He  p.'so  ad- 
vised me  not  to  depart  without  being  acconphnied 
by  some  trusty  man,  because  I  should  otherwise  be 
exposed  to  great  dangers ;  and  he  seemed  to  take 
much  pains  to  procure  such  a  person  for  me.  He 
at  length  came  with  a  well-dressed  man,  whom 
he  introduced  to  me  as  a  nobleman,  a  friend 
of  his,  who  was  willing  to  accompany  me  to 
London.  I  received  him  with  great  civility,  and 
felt  at  a  loss  how  to  acknowledge  his  extreme 
politeness.  In  the  carriage  I  '>vyged  huu  ♦o  take 
his  seat  next  to  me,  and  kept  the  children  oppo- 
site to  me ;  thus  endeavouring,  by  all  means,  to 

6* 


'Vi'  ^^> 


■^ 


r 


sm- 


-.  \--'-^.. 


'>#  .'■;?!"rrT" 


%.^ 


'^' 


'"S^ 


r^;>;-- 


■.■* 


66 

prevent  them  from  being  troublesome  to  him. 
He  affected  the  manners  of  a  man  of  much  con- 
sequence, and  ate  at  my  table  during  the  whole 
journey.  I  observed,  however,  that  the  servants 
in  the  inns  were  on  free  and  easy  terms  with  him ; 
but  I  did  not  reflect  much  upon  it,  the  obligation 
under  which  I  thought  I  was  to  him,  blinding  me  al- 
together. But  I  could  not  help  feeling  some  aston- 
ishment when,  at  the  hotel  where  we  alighted,  on 
our  arrival  in  London,  I  was  ushered  into  a  mise-. 
rable  room  in  the  fourth  story,  though  I  had  asked 
for  a  good  apartment,  and  had  been  assured  by 
Mr.  de  Feronce,  of  Brunswic,  that  I  should  find 
splendid  lodgings.  I  imagined  that  I  could  not 
have  a  better  room  because  the  house  was  already 
full,  and  general  Schlieffen,  and  the  other  gentle- 
men who  came  to  visit  me,  and,  particularly,  the 
ladies  for  whom  the  hereditary  princess,  now 
duchess  of  Brunswic,  had  given  me  letters  of  in- 
ti  oduction,  wondered  that  I  was  in  so  bad  an  abode. 
On  the  following  day,  the  landlord  came  with 
an  abashed  air,  and  the  most  reverential  demean- 
our, to  ask  me,  whether  I  knew  the  man  with 
whom  I  had  arrived,  and  whom  I  had  so  particu- 
larly desired  him  to  provide  with  good  lodgings  ? 
(I  had  not  thought  proper  to  have  him  at  my  table 
in  London.)  I  answered,  that  he  was  a  nobleman, 
who,  on  the  request  of  Mr.  Guilhaudin,  my  land- 


^- 


^^ 


'.j*-*'^. 


* 


i* 


■^  •»' ' 


*>■■ 


67 


lord  at  Calais,  had  been  kind  enough  to  accompa- 
ny me  on  my  journey.  "  Ah !"  cried  the  landlord, 
"  that  is  one  of  his  tricks.  The  man  is  a  footman, 
a '  valet  de  place,'  a  rogue,  through  whom  he  is 
glad  to  promote  his  own  interest.  Seeing  him  sit- 
ting next  to  you  in  your  carriage,  when  you  ar- 
rived, I  could  not,  I  confess,  believe  that  you  were 
the  lady  you  pretended  to  be,  and  thought  that 
these  rooms  were  good  enough  for  you.  But  I  sec 
now,  by  the  persons  that  visit  you,  how  much  J 
was  mistaken,  and  I  ask  your  pardon,  madam,  and 
beg  that  you  will  follow  me  into  another  apart- 
ment, for  which  you  shall  not  pay  more  than  for. 
that  which  you  now  occup} ,  for  I  really  wish  to 
atone  by  all  means  for  my  error."  I  thanked  my 
liost,  and  requested  him  to  rid  me  of  my  compa- 
nion as  soon  as  possible.  I  was,  however,  obliged 
first  to  pay  him  four  or  six  guineas  (I  do  not  re- 
member the  exact  sum)  for  his  company.  I  could 
never  forgive  Mr.  Guilhaudin  thi^  trick ;  and  ho 
did  not  behave  much  better  concerning  my  car- 
riage. It  was  he  who  told  me  that  it  was  prohi- 
bited to  import  carriages  into  England,  and  ad- 
vised me  to  leave  mine  in  his  care.  I  was  after- 
wards informed,  that  his  pur'iose  was  to  do  with 
it,  what  he  had  already  done  with  other  vehicles 
entrusted  to  him,  namely,  to  hire  it  to  travellers 
on  their  way  tx>  Germany.    But  this  I  prevented^ 


M' 


■T. 


* 


I 


/4 


r 


,^v 


68 


f^< 


rl 


by  soliciting  of  Lord  North  permission  to  bring 
it  over  to  England,  free  from  duties.  The  mini- 
ster  immediately  complied  with  my  request ,  and 
though  this  detained  me  a  few  days,  I  found  it 
much  to  my  convenience  and  comfort  to  have 
waited  for  my  carriage. 

On  my  arrival,  my  eyes  were  so  weak,  from  the 
fatigues  of  the  journey,  that  one  of  them  became 
much  inflamed.  General  Schlieffen  insisted  upon 
my  consulting  an  oculist,  and  brought  me  the  pne 
who  attended  the  queen.  He  seemed  alarmed, 
but  encouraged  me  to  hope.  He  took  some  sort 
of  powder  in  a  quill,  and  desired  me  to  open  my 
eye,  which  I  did  without  hesitation,  little  aware  of 
what  I  was  to  suffer.  But  when  he  had  finished 
the  operation,  I  experienced  such  excruciating 
pains,  that  I  have  never  since  been  able  to  submit 
again  to  that  experiment :  and,  even  when  I  wa? 
most  resolute  upon  it,  my  eye  closed  itself  invo- 
luntarily. However,  I  found  myself  much  better  | 
for  it.  The  pl^y  wuan  gave  me  another  prescrip- 
tion, and  I  was  obliged  to  pay  him  three  guineas, 
which  did  not  please  me  much  ;  but  general  Schli- 
effen told  me  that  T  could  not  give  him  less,  as  he 
was  the  queen'?  oculist. 

While  at  London,  I  lodged  in  Suffolk-street, 
and  found  every  thing  very  dear.  As  I  intended 
to  remain  only  two  days,  I  did  not  make  any  agree- 


A 


■I 


'•t 

<    i 


r- 


•*^ 


■:*^ 


69 


•T-J^ 


ment ;  but  when  the  first  week  was  over,  I  called 
for  my  bill. 

I  took,  in  my  carriage,  short  rides  through  the 
city ;  which  I  could  not  extend  far  on  account  of 
my  little  child,  wliom  I  nursed  myself;  but  I  pro- 
mised myself  to  see  more  of  London  on  my  re- 
turn. I  went,  however,  twice  to  St.  James'  Park, 
and  had  a  near  view  of  the  king  and  queen,  who 
were  in  their  sedans.  The  park  is  a  delightful 
promenade:  from  five  to  six  thousand  persons 
walk  there  every  day. 

I  met  with  an  unpleasant  accident  during  my 
first  stay  in  London.  I  iiad  been  advised  to  buy  a 
short  cloak  and  a  hat,  without  which,  I  was  told, 
I  ought  not  to  go  into  the  street.  One  day,  after 
a  dinner  at  the  Hanoverian  envoys,  Mr.  de  Hina- 
ber,  his  lady  proposed  to  me  to  take  a  walk  into 
St.  James',  but  forgot  that  our  attire  was  not  ac- 
cording to  the  English  fashion.  My  Gustava, 
dressed  in  the  French  style,  had  a  "  panier,"  and  a 
neat  little  cap.  I  observed  that  some  people 
stared,  and  almost  pointed  at  us,  and  I  inquired 
what  it  meant.  Mad.  de  Hiniiber  replied,  that  it 
was  on  account  of  my  fan,  which  it  was  not  the 
fashion  to  wear  with  a  hat ;  that  my  little  girl  was 
too  finely  dressed  J  and  that  we.  were,  therefore, 
taken  for  French  women,  who  were  generally  ol' 
ill  repute.    I  went  the  next  day  to  the  same  place. 


'*' 


m 


^ 


r- 


■•V 


70 


and  as  we  were  all  dressed  in  the  English  fashion. 
I  thought  that  nobody  would  notice  us.  Yet  I 
heard  some  cry  again,  "French  v/omen,  pretty 
girl!"  I  asked  our  "valet  de  place,"  why  we 
were  taken  for  French  people  9  and  was  told  that 
it  was  because  my  children  wore  ribands.  I  im- 
mediately tore  them  off,  and  put  them  in  mj 
pocket;  upon  which  I  was  the  more  stared  at, 
and  at  last  discovered  that  it  was  only  on  account 
of  the  form  of  the  children's  hats.  I  was  thys 
led  to  know  how  important  it  is  to  conform  to  the 
manners  of  the  country,  in  order  to  live  peacea- 
bly, for  the  mob  is  soon  gathered  together,  and  if 
one  ventures  to  dispute  with  them,  it  is  at  the 
risk  of  still  greater  insults. 

My  plan  was  to  go  to  Bristol,  and  there  wait  for 
an  opportunity  to  embark  for  America.  All  those 
to  whom  I  had  been  recommended,  endeavoured 
to  dissuade  me  from  it,  because  they  thought  I 
could  not  so  well  receive  intelligence  in  Bristol, 
respecting  the  sailing*  of  the  ships  :  but  I  wished 
to  conform  myself  to  my  husband's  directions.  I 
therefore  left  London  on  the.  10th  of  June,  and  ar- 
rived the  next  day  at  Bristol.  When  I  stopped  at 
the  inn,  the  rabble  stared  and  laughed  at  the  Ger- 
man style  of  the  steps  of  the  carriage,  and  at  the 
two  guns  which  my  servant  had  fastened  under 
the  driver's  seat.     They  touched  them,  and  lifted 


■^ 


«f : 


V 


1       r:-:-. 


im*'*^<\». 


■.»7 


■■V  '^'T  .'•'■'■" 


<A*' 


71 


the  oil-cloth,  with  which  the  carriage  was  covered, 
to  see  how  it  was  painted.  My  servant,  who 
knew  but  a  few  words  of  English,  instead  of  keep- 
ing himself  quiet,  began  to  scold  them,  where- 
upon he  received  a  volley  of  curses.  He  re- 
joined by  giving  a  severe  blow  to  th6  person  who 
was  next  to  him.  The  whole  rabble  then  fell 
upon  him,  and  the  story  might  have  had  a  tragi- 
cal end,  had  the  mayor  not  arrived  in  time  to  pre- 
vent it.  I  had  written' to  Mrs.  Foy,  who  was  a 
niece  to  this  gentleman,  to  procure  me  a  lodging, 
and,  as  soon  as  I  arrived,  I  sent  for  him  to  carry 
me  to  it.  This  respectable  old  gentleman  went  in 
all  haste  for  his  niece,  who  knew  a  little  of  the 
t'rench  language,  and  with  whom  I  went  to  the 
lodgings  prepared  for  me,  which  were '  very  ele- 
gant and  spacious,  but  also  very  dear. 


v^> 


f.  T^ 


p  ■ 

i 

i 


•^  f  Mi 


.« 


t 


T^^% 


■*  ^'-  V  . 


.i^M^. 


•T:  t" 


^:rl.*' 


¥' 


11-.    I 


(*,j^ 


# 


-»-  10 


^ST' 


4 


'i;-^- 


** 


72 


Residence  of  Mad.  de  H'mlesd  at  Bristol^  Poris- 
mouth,  and  London,  and  her  saiiirig  from  Ports- 
mouth. 

I  became  aware,  ioon  after  my  arrival  at  Bris- 
tol, hov.'  disagreeable  it  is,  to  live  among  people 
whose  lavigiiatre  one  does  not  krovv^.  My  servants 
\cere  ouL  of  spirits  and  1  v/as  obliged  to  conceal 
from  them  vtliat  I  ielt  on  xis  t  account.  I  often 
passed  whole  iiours  weeping  alone  in  my  chamber. 
But  at  last  I  resolved  to  overcome  all  my  present 
difficulties,  I  spared  therefore  no  pains  to  learn 
the  English  language,  and  in  six  weeks  acquired 
sufficient  knowledge  of  it,  to  be  able  to  ask  for  al! 
I  wanted,  and  to  read  the  newspapers,  which  at 
that  time  interested  me  extremely,  particularly 
such  as  contained  i;ews  from  Quebec,  where  my 
husband  then  resided. 

I  was  soon  obliged  to  change  my  lodgings, 
my  landlady  having  opposed  the  washing  even 
of  the  children's  linen  in  her  house.  In  my 
new  lodgings  I  enjoyed  a  delightful  prospect  of 
the  whole  "  College-green ;"  which  was  the 
rendezvous  of  numerous  visi  teri:> ;  and  children 
were  not  excluded;   my  own  were  much  there. 


H 


Bristol  W4 

society  w 

.sailors  th: 

unpleasar 

ess  urged 

delightfiil 

dow,  I  be 

with  the  ^ 

ning  from 

Little  ace 

retired  int 

avoid  heai 

blow  whic 

this  city  I 

that  in  Lo 

gown  trim 

seemed  ou 

walking  oi 

dred  sailor 

out,  "Fre 

as  quickly 

something 

dispersed. 

a  dislike 

gave  it  to 

i\Qw.     Ab( 

place  calle 

ly  of  Wem 


'*1ff 


78 


■■■>;: 


■i;> 


If  Poris- 
n  Ports- 


at  Bris- 
y  people 
'  servants 
►  conceal 
I  often 
chamber. 
y  present 
s  to  learn 
acquired 
isk  ibr  all 
which  at 
rticularly 
^here  my 


lodgings, 
ling  even 
In  my 
ospect  of 
was  the 
children 
ch  there. 


Bristol  would  be  a  very  agreeable  residence  if  the 
society  were  better  composed  ;  but  the  crowd  of 
.sailors  that  one  constantly  meets,  renders  that  city 
unpleasant.  On  the  day  after  my  arrival,  my  host- 
ess urged  me  to  look  at  what  she  called  "  a  most 
delightfiil  spectacle."  When  I  reached  the  win- 
dow, I  beheld  two  naked  men  in  the  act  of  boxing 
with  the  greatest  eagerness.  I  saw  the  blood  run- 
ning from  them  and  fury  was  painted  in  their  eyes. 
Little  accustomed*  to  such  a  hateful  exhibition,  I  * 
retired  into  the  remotest  corner  of  the  house,  to 
avoid  hearing  the  shouts  of  the  spectators,  at  every 
blow  which  either  of  the  combatants  received. — In 
this  city  I  met  with  an  adventure  very  similar  to 
that  in  London.  I  was  indebted  for  it  to  a  chintz 
gown  trimmed  with  green  taffeta.  This  probably 
seemed  outlandish  to  the  Bristol  people,  for  on 
walking  one  day  with  Mrs.  Foy,  more  than  a  hun- 
dred sailors  followed  us,  and  pointing  at  us,  cried 

out,  "  French  w !"     I  retreated  into  a  shop 

as  quickly  as  possible  under  pretence  of  buying 
something,  and  while  I  remained  theVe  the  rabble 
dispersed.  This  adventure,  however,  gave  me  such 
a  dislike  to  my  gown  that  on  returning  home,  I 
gave  it  to  my  cook-maid,  thot  gh  it  was  yet  quite 
mw.  About  three  miles  from  Bristol  is  a  bathing 
place  called  Hot- Wells,  which  reminded  me  strong- 
ly of  Wendefurth,  near  Blankerburg  in  the  Hartz, 

7 


M 


# 


m? 


.V' 


^flEi 


'%' 


74 


if' 


3^' 


i«k 


■•«■ 


•*i. 


</ 


^^ 


^^-  except  that  the  former  has  finer  buildings  and  an 
open  saloon  for  all  the  guests.     There  are  always 
a  great  number  of  the  latter  here  on  account  of 
sickness,  and  principally  persons  affected  with  pul- 
monary complaints.    The  mountainous  and  rocky 
nature  of  the  country  obliges  ladies  to  be  a  great 
deal  on  horseback,  and  those  who  cannot  manage 
a  horse,  ride  in  a  kind  of  arm-chair  and  have  a 
guide.     The  season  for  visiting  this  place  is  sum- 
mer, and  the  counterpart  of  it  during  the  winter  h  | 
Bath,  eight  miles  distant   from   the  Hot  Wells. 
Bath  is  a  very  agreeable  residence,  with  a  multi- 
tude of  splendid  buildings,  and  one  never  want? 
amusement  there.     But  this  I  say  from  general  re- 
port, for  I  visited   Bath  only  in  the  summer  and  I 
found  it  very  lonely.     I  met  in  the  house  where  I 
lived  in  Bristol,  a  captain  Fenton,  whose  wife  hadre-l 
mained  in  Boston  with  a  daughter  of  fourteen.  He| 
was  a   fond   husband  and  a  doting  father,    ant 
begged  me  to  take  charge  of  some  letters  on  m}  I 
departure  for  America.     On  my  arrival  I  learned 
that  on  account  of  his  long  absence,  Mrs.  Fentonj 
had  been  arrested  and  suffered  much  ill-treatment:! 
but  of  this  anon.     1  made  another  acquaintance 
in  Bristol,  of  which  I  shall  ever  preserve  a  grateful 
recollection.     The  occasion  of  it  was  a  letter  of 
introduction  T  had  received  for  an  English  banker. 
by  the  name  of  Ireland^  from  young  Mr.  Lee,  the 
nephew  of  the  American  general  of  that  name,  whol 


■# 


•    *w: 


>r.' 


1* 


75 


^ 


was  a  student  at  Caroline  College  in   Bninswic. 
He  mentioned  Mr.  Ireland  with  much  regard  and 
respect,   and  assured  me  that  I  should  be  much 
gratified  with  his  acquaintance.     Although  I  put 
at  first  but  little  trust  in  the  recommendation  of  so 
young  a  man,  I  forwarded  my  letter  to  the  banker,    '"^i . 
who  lived  about  seven  miles  from  town.     Imme-    %  -. 
diately  after  I  was  waited  on  by  an  old  gentle-    , 
man  with  a  very  beautiful  lady,  whose  friendship  I 
was  fortunate   enough  to  gain  so  promptly,  that 
they  entreated  me  to  pay  them  a  visit.     I  went  and  *■ 

dined  with  them.     Their  residence  was  a  splendid    ' 
country  seat,  in   a  most   beautiful  situation,  and 
adorned  with  gardens.     They  had  two  charming 
little   girls  on  whom  they  doated   with   parental 
fondness;  yet  they  wislxed  for  a  male  heir.     They 
were  wealthy  and  their  establishment  correspond-         #> 
ed  to  their  fortune.     This  excellent  family  showed 
me  much  kindness,  and  on  my  departure  to  /Ports- 
mouth, in  expectation  of  a  passage  to  America,  I 
was   obliged  to  promise   them,   that,   should  tl 
ship  be  detained,  as  it  sometimes  happens,  I  would 
not  embark  after  the  middle  of  October.     Having 
afterwards  missed  the  time  of  departure  and  having 
returned  to  London  at   the  end  of  September, 
from  whence  I  wrote  them  in  the  spring,  that  I 
was  about  finally  leaving  England,  these  excellent  /^ 
people  travelled  about  eighty  miles  tomec      .    \n  • 
liondon,  and  repeat  their  offers  of  service.     1  had 


4^ 

ir  . 


At 


:% 


'»W 


>'■-; 


*: 


-f      V-. 


*  ■'  «.  A. 


■J*'-''*." 


^.-^ 


-f.  •» 


'% 


^,'>^. 
#**'-»  ^ 


.  J^  -  4r*-, 


% 


.>'f-::^" 


.  «»■ 


-fe 


- » 


now  jio  occasion  Ifer  them,  but  could  not  refuse 
letters  of  recommendation  for  all  the  ports  where 
contrary  winds  might  oblige  me  to  enter,  and 
here  they  wished  their  friends  to   be  service- 
able  to  me.     When  on  my  arrival  at  Quebec, 
these  letters  had  become  useless,  I  opened  them 
and  could  not  help  feeling  deeply  moved  at  dis- 
y^Jfi^coverinff  that  they  had  requested  their  friends  to 
4        ad.uiice  nie  as  Liach  money  as  I  should  ask.    The 
birth  of  a  son  afforded  them  another  opportunity 
,        to  give  me  a  mark  of  regai'd  which  is  not  slightly 
bestowed  in  England.     They  chose  me  for  god- 
mother.    I  have  often  wished  that  the  young  man 
of  whom  I  thus  became  the  sponsor,  might  visil 
Brunswic,  that  I  might  be  able  to  show  him  my 
gratitude  for  the  favours  I  received  from  his  pa- 
^      rent?,  and  which  will  never  be  obliterated  from 
my  memory. 

I  spent  three  or  four  months  in  Bristol,  d  de- 
sired nothing  so  much  as  to  rejoin  my  husband  es- 
pecially since  I  knew  that  Quebec  was  oci .  ^aod 
by  the  English.  But  T  could  never  prevail  on 
Mrs.  Foy  to  hasten  our  departure.  She  always  said 
she  'uist  first  receive  letters  from  her  husband. 
In  tiie  meanwhile,  winter  approached;  I  wrote 
therefore  to  lord  George  Germain,  begging  his  ad- 
vice. He  replied  very  politely,  that  indeed  the 
winter  wms  coming  on,  and  that  I  had  reasQiji  to  bo 


•^r. 


vJT. 


J* 


venienc< 


i 


■p- 


►TTf, 


/ 

V      ^ 


'''$F 


■V 


^ 


77 


«• 


anxious  to  rejoin  Hi  fiusband,  especially  as  lie  ur- 
ged me  to  come,  but  us  he  at  the  same  time  had 
requested  me  not  to  depart  without  Mrs.  Foy,  and 
he  (the  minister)  believed  mc  disposed  strictly  to 
obey  my  husband's  wishes,  he  did  not  know  well 
what  advice  he  could  give  me ;  but  he  offered  me, 
at  all  events,  a  passage  in  one  of  the  packet-ships, 
and  suggested  that  I  should  persuade  Mrs.  Foy  to 
profit  by  the  same  conveyance.  But  with  her  all 
my  entreaties  were  in  vain,  until  she  received 
the  long  expected  letter.  Then  my  impatience 
was  at  its  very  height,  but  still  not  so  great 
as  Mrs.  Foy'  irresolution.  I  at  length  over- 
came her  hesiiation,  and  wrote  again  to  lord  Ger- 
main, who  immediately  answered  that  a  packet- 
ship  was  in  readiness  to  depart,  of  all  the  cabins 
of  which  I  might  freely  dispose  for  my  own  con- 
venience, and  that  of  the  persons  belonging  to 
me;  and  that  Mrs.  Foy  could  therefore  accompany 
me.  He  added,  that  I  should  find  every  thing 
prepared  for  our  reception,  and  that  it  gave  him 
great  pleasure  to  be  serviceable  to  me.  I  was  af- 
terwards informed,  that  by  his  express  orders,  pro- 
visions, and  even  a  cow,  (to  provide  my  children 
with  milk,)  had  been  put  on  board.  Yet  on  our 
arrival  at  Quebec,  the  captain  of  the  packet-ship 
demanded  payment  from  my  husband  ior  all  these 
articles.  -.' 


.4-^- 


IJ* 


'\  'I* 


^Z 


,<e 


'?• 


■4f 


■f 


*    dT^'tfilC 


*•' 


-  ♦.*  •-^**-*-' **.-J  ^*#**J^  1 


4-i 


'.    V.'-^i;i*-. 


»-Nw 


'-^Sii^:: 


i 


•tf 


•s 


V 


11 


1^ 


'*■■ 


%.• 


m  '■ 


>-  .1 


..  # 


7» 


As  the  moment  of  oui  departun^  opproachcjl, 
Mrs.  Foy  became  less  willing  to  go.  She  loved 
her  comforts,  and  could  not  endure  the  ideaof  lea- 

riring  her  handsome  and  elegantly  furnished  house. 

•'But  at  last  we  set  out  for  Portsmouth,  where  we 
were  to  take  our  passage.  Mrs.  Foy  and  her  sis- 
ter had  many  old  acquaintances  in  that  city  among 
the  officers,  and  spent  the  evening  pleasantly  in 
their  company,  while  I  had  enough  to  do,  to  put 
my  children  to  bed.  These  officers  assured  Mrs. 
Foy  that  the  season  was  too  far  advanced;  that 
the  voyage  would  be  extremely  unpleasant;  that 
it  was  a  real  pity  that  such  handsome  ladies  should 
expose  themselves  to  such  dangers; — and  much 
more  of  the  same  import,  which,  however,  I  could 
but  guess  at,  from  my  imperfect  knowledge  of  the 
language.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  she  declared  to 
me,  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  that  she  was  de- 
termined to  return  to  Bristol.  I  entreated  her  to 
consider  of  it,  and  retired,  while  she  returned  to 

^  her  company.  The  next  morning  at  8  o'clock,  i 
received  a  message  that  all  was  ready  for  our  de- 
parture. I  then  again  besought  Mrs.  Foy ;  I  even 
wept,  but  all  in  vain ;  for  she  knew  that  my  hus- 
band had  insisted  that  I  should  not  depart  without 
her.  She  had  already  despatched  our  coachman 
with  our  baggage  for  Bristol.  I  knew  not  what  to 
do  ; — the  carriage  was  ready  and  I  was  obliged  to 


.'■'■^^m 


'■•^'^ 


'■■■  --.-■.;■■  ^  .-^  :.  -f--^ ag--- -r 


*  ' 


'i*»'. 


•.% 


79 


yield.  While  we  were  driving  through  tlie  city, 
I  observed  a  great  waggon  escorted  by  a  soldier 
on  horse-back.  I  inquired  what  sort  of  a  vehicle 
that  was.  My  English  maid  (whom  I  had  engaged 
in  Bristol  for  my  voyage)  informed  me  that  it  was 
a  waggon  containing  money,  which  was  to  bo  ship- 
ped on  board  our  packet.  This  news  fell  like  a 
weight  on  my  heart,  and  I  observed  to  Mrs.  Foy, 
that  the  season  could  not  be  so  very  dangerous, 
when  so  much  money  was  shipped.  "Well,"  re- 
plied she,  "if  you  still  reason  in  this  way,  why 
don't  you  embark?"  "Because  you  have  prevented 
me  from  doing  it,"  cried  I,  "by  sending  our  bag- 
gage back  to  Bristol."  She  then  rejoined,  in  a 
tone  of  raillery;  "With  so  much  courage  as  you 
have,  you  might  embark  with  the  few  things  you 
have  with  you,  and  I  will  send  you  all  the  rest  by 
some  other  vessel."  She  had  naturally  a  mild 
temper,  but  was  on  this  occasion  misled  by  her 
sister,  who,  besides  being  not  as  good  as  she,  was 
really  alarmed  at  the  dangers  of  the  voyage.  The; 
manner  in  which  she  had  behaved,  however,  in- 
spired me  with  new  courage,  and  I  resolyed  to  re- 
turn to  Portsmouth  to  wait  for  the  vessel,  which, 
it  must  be  observed,  had  not  yet  arrived.  It  was 
expected  every  minute,  and  I  doubted  so  mucii 
the  less  of  its  immediate  arrival,  as  I  yet  knew  but 
little  pf  the  dilatoriness  of  sea-people,  and  the 


4 


'♦' 


IS- 


^ 


r 

I 


^v- 


•w 


'■'  ^■ 


'l^'.' 


J» 


^ 


**•*■ 


V, 


80 


frequent  delays  in  the  sailing  of  a  vessel.  I  or- 
dered my  faithful  "Chasseur,"  Rockel,to  run  after 
the  carter,  ivho  fortunately  understood  a  little 
German,  and  was,  therefore,  more  easily  persuaded 
to  unpack  his  charge  and  deliver  my  baggage. 
When  this  was  done,  I  bid  adieu  to  Mrs.  Foy,  and 
jreturned  to  the  place  from  whence  we  had  set  out, 
and  where  I  was  determined  to  wait,  as  long  as 
the  season  left  me  any  hope  of  a  passage,  accord- 
ing to  the  promise  I  had  made  my  good  friend 
Ireland;  especially  as  the  friends  of  admiral 
Douglass,  whose  acquaintance  I  had  made,  when 
in  Bristol,  and  some  other  persons  assured  me, 
that  we  might  yet  reckon  on  good  weather  for  two 
weeks.  Even  the  officers  who  had  dissuaded  Mrs. 
Foy,  were  now  of  the  same  opinion,  and  excused 
themselves  to  me,  for  having  spoken  otherwise,  by 
saying,  that  they  had  found  that  lady  and  her  sis- 
ter so  alarmed  at  the  dangers  of  a  voyage,  that 
they  thought  they  could  not  please  them  better, 
than  by  humouring  their  reluctance  to  undertake 
it.  I  dined  often  with  the  Douglasses.  Not  be- 
ing yet  very  conversant  with  the  manners  of  the 
country,  I  was  continually  apprehensive  of  being 
Jike  the  romp  in  the  comedy,  "  Ninette  introduced 
to  the  count."  Thus,  for  instance,  I  could  never 
eat  vegetables  merely  boiled  in  water,  until  at 
length  I  observed  that  they  eat  them  with  a  good 


.A 


'W 


*..;«^ 


*^r' 


4 


■^^. 


81 


sauce  of  butter.  I  then  followed  their  example, 
and  was  much  better  pleased  with  that  manner  of 
serving  vegetables,  than  with  ours.  However, 
vegetables  are  so  excellent  in  England,  that  one 
can  eat  them  with  pleasure,  even  when  only  boiled, 
with  salt.  The  manner  of  drinking,  also  occa- 
sioned me  some  perplexity.  Several  persons  pro- 
posed to  me  to  drink  with  them;  a  custom,  of 
which,  I  had  long  before  been  informed,  and  I 
knew  that  it  was  considered  a  rudeness  to  refuse. 
But  I  did  not  know  how  to  act,  while  I  was  wean- 
ing my  little  Carolina  and  I  could  not  taste  any 
wine.  At  first,  I  durst  not  decline,  but  as  I  fear- 
ed it  might  injure  my  child,  I  asked  frankly,  if  it 
would  be  an  offence,  if  I  returned  the  compliment 
by  drinking  water.  They  smiled,  and  told  me 
that  half-bred,  or  ill-natured  people,  might  take  it 
very  ill;  but  that  in  good  company  nobody  would 
ever  be  offended  by  such  a  trifle.  I  was  thus  re- 
lieved from  another  embarrassment. 

In  the  English  church,  the  congregation  repeat 
in  a  loud  voice,  the  service,  the  Lord's  prayer  and 
the  commandments.  I  was,  at  first,  much  struck 
by  the  noise  which  ensued,  and  was  once  near 
running  away  :  at  length  I  did  as  the  others.    ,^f- 

Women,  in  England,  are  obliged  to  keep  their 
bonnets  on  when  in  church,  and  they  would  be 
pointed  at,  if  they  came  without  such  a  gear.    On 


■». 


I'v^.' 


m 


%^- 


,-(*/ 


I 


It*.-. 


'i^'^m.^  i-*^*. 


,i3|fcj5*»« 


_,     '.  ..:■    -^.i;.  !J,«.i'<^>-J;■ 


■.^ 


^ 


#■ 


82 


'* 


r 


ii: 


#' 


-' 


i#». 


iiiy  return  to  Germany,  when  I  and  my  daugliter.< 
entered  the  church  with  our  bonnets,  all  eyes  were 
turned  upon  us.  Now,  they  are  worn  in  several 
ways.  Such  is  the  fate  of  every  new  fashion.  ] 
remained  three  weeks  at  Portsmouth,  waiting  for 
a  ship,  until  at  last  I  was  assured  that  I  risked  too 
much,  chiefly  in  regard  to  my  children,  by  em- 
barking at  that  late  season ;  and  that  there  were  ti 
hundred  chances  to  one,  that  I  should  find  the  St. 
Lawrence  frozen,  and,  consequently,  the  entrance 
to  Quebec  shut,  even  if  I  departed  this  year. 
This  was,  indeed,  a  sad  prospect,  and  my  tender- 
ness for  my  children  forbade  me  longer  to  think 
of  my  departure.  It  would  have  been  quite 
otherwise  had  I  been  alone. 

Portsmouth  is  an  agreeable  seaport,  and  mucli 
enlivened,  as  it  seemed  to  me,  by  the  daily  arrval 
*of  vessels,  which  announce  their  approach  by  sa- 
lutes. There  is  then  always  a  great  running  to 
the  shore,  to  know  whence  they  come.  Ships 
are  also  built  here,  and  the  dockyard  is  very  fine. 
The  naval  academy  is  a  splendid  establishment. 
[n  no  other  school  had  I  ever  seen  so  much  neat- 
ness and  good  order.  The  admual's  mansion  is 
beautiful,  and  the  view  from  it  grand.  The  town 
is  surrounded  by  walls,  with  fine  walk^  on  theii 
tops.  There  are  more  handsome  houses  in  Ports- 
mouth than  in  Bristol,  and  the  inhabitants,  though 


i,  ;.  t 

fe; 

4- 

V 


t; 


"»."*t'K  ■■ 


t-  ^_^-' 


.^•*^*'^ 


m 


4 


♦"f 


83 


>> 


for  the  most  part  sailors,  are  more  polite.    The 
admiral  kepi  a  watchful  eye  over  them,  and  pu- 
nished severely  all  disorders,  but  was  withal  an 
amiable   and  kind  gentleman.     My  money  was 
now  almost  gone,  as  I  had  provided  myself  only 
with  as  much  asJ  thought  would  be  necessary  in 
order  to  prepare^  for  my  voyage.     But  my  journey 
to  Portsmouth,  and  residence  there,  had  been  more 
expensive  than  I  had  anticipated,  and  had  nearly 
drained  my  purse.     I  was,  therefore,  glad  to  meet, 
at  my  inn,  with  friends,  from  whom  I  could  expect 
assistance  in  case  I  should  need  it.     These  were  a 
captain  Young,  and  his  wife,  who  had  arrived  from 
Tabago.     The  captain  had  been,  during  the  seven 
years'  war,  aid-de-camp  to  our  duke,  who  was  then 
hereditary  princ  e,  and  was  much  attached  to  him ; 
and,  as  he  was  well  acquainted  with  my  husband, 
he  proposed  to  me  to  go  with  him  and  his  w'fe,  to 
London,  and  to  lodge  with  them,  at  proportional 
expense.     He  was  a  middle-aged   man,   and  his 
wife  was  about  thirty  years  old,  by  no  means  pret- 
ty, of  a  sallow  complexion,  but  with  a  very  pre- 
possessing countenance.     I  thanked  God  that  I 
had  met  with  them ;  and  seeing  that  it  would  be 
impossible  for  me  to  reach  Quebec  during  this 
y«^ar,  1  promised  to  follow  riiem  to  London,  which 
[  did  a  few  days  afterwards.     On  my  jo\   ney,  I 
Slopped  in  a  small  but  neat  town,  the  name  of 


•4- 


^ 


I. 


•>! 


tjt 


.■^^ 


■#■■-,.♦;..; 


~-V>X|M,i^  --S-    "^'^ 


-■S3^iSt>~^--"^'^-SL 


h-* 


8>Si 


M 


u'»^ 


'    1 ;     Ml 


ill 


:*' 


#  ,  ;    ,^  «#. 

,„which  has  escaped  my  memory.  For  fear  that 
every  thing  might  be  as  expensive  here  as  in 
Portsmouth,  I  contented  myself  with  a  small  room,, 
and  with  mutton  chop  and  potatoes.  The  inn 
was  spacious,  and  all  the  furniture  very  elegant. 
The  corridors,  galleries,  and,  in  one  word,  the 
whole  house,  was  adorned  on  the  outside  with 
plants  and  shrubs,  between  which  hang  globes  of 
glass,  filled  with  birds  and  fishes.  I  was  fright- 
ened at  all  this  splendour,  on  account  of  my 
purse,  and  the  more  so,  when  I  was  ushered  into 
the  most  elegant  rooms,  and  had  five  or  six  palata- 
ble dishes.  When  the  ,  landlord  came  to  serve 
himself,  I  thoughi  inwardly,  "  This  costs  a  guinea 
more."  At  breakfast  1  saw  my  servants  feasting 
on  chocolate,  coffee,  cakes,  and  other  such  luxu- 
ries, and  could  not  forbear  chiding  them  some- 
what, for  living  so  splendidly,  when  they  knew 
that  I  had  but  little  money.  They  protested  they 
had  only  asked  for  tea,  but  that  the  landlord  had 
answered,  that  sucii  honest  servants,  who  were 
willing  to  follow  their  masters  to  America,  de- 
served to  be  well  treated.  In  a  word,  no  atten- 
tion or  civility  was  spared  towards  me.  I  asked 
at  last,  with  fear  and  trembling,  for  my  bill,  and 
Iiow  astonished  was  I  when  T  heard  that  it  was 
only  1 0  shillings.  I  told  the  landlord  that  he  must 
be  mistaken.     "  No,  madam,"  replied  Ik',  "  that  is 


[.y.. 


4' 


^-•^mm^tOi^ 


.4 


Ht 


m 


85 


w«. 


"Mr--- 


more  than  it  cost  me;  and  I  am  happ-  to'^sfi 
you  that  there  are  honest  people  in  England.  I 
admire  your  fortitude,  and  wish  to  convince  you 
that  my  admiration  is  sincere." 

On  entering  my  carriage,  I  found  the  inside 
trimmed  with  flowers  and  shrubs,  and  on  accident- 
ally putting  my  hand  into  one  of  the  pockets,  I 
found  it  filled  with  apples  and  cakes,  a  present, 
undoubtedly  from  the  good  landlord  to  the  child- 
ren. I  reached  Lond6n  towards  the  end  of  Sep- 
tember, and' was  not  a  little  vexed  at  being  short- 
ly afterwards  informed  that  the  ship  for  which  I 
had  waited  so  anxiously,  had  touched  at  Ports- 
mouth, and  immediately  departed  for  America.  I 
was,  however,  assured,  that  I  should  have  risked 
much  by  embarking  at  that  late  season.  The 
vessel,  nevertheless,  arrived  safely  at  its  destina- 
tion; but  another,  within  a  few  days  of  the  same 
lime,  had  met  with  a  sad  accident;  she  struck 
against  the  ice,  and  the  crew  alone  escaped. 

In  London,  I  was  elegantly  lodged  with  my 
friends,  the  Youngs,  and  had  an  excellent  table. 
When  I  alluded  to  paying,  they  answered  that 
they  were  very  happy  to  enjoy  my  company.  This 
was  rather  perplexing  to  me ;  but  as  I  supposed 
them  to  be  extremely  wealthy,  and  inferred  that 
they  woald  not  accept  any  money  from  me,  it 
came  into  my  mind,  that  I  could  ixot  better  sJiow 

8 


v'«  , 


f  j  i 


Ji%: 


J- 


j^i 


i 


r..* 


%■• 


^^ 


>^ 


.4- 


86 


them  the  sense  I  entertained  of  their  hospitality, 
than  by  presenting  Mrs.  Young  my  portrait  in  a 
diamond  bracelet,  and  as  I  had  the  latter,  I  hoped 
I  should  in  this  way  acquit  myself  towards  my  host 
and  avoid  expense  to  my  husband.  I  spent  most 
of  my  time  with  Mrs.  Young,  who  was  of  delicate 
health,  and  a  melancholy  disposition,  and  with 
our  landlady,  Mrs.  Bohlen;  and,  upon  the  whole, 
had  reason  to  be  pleased  with  my  situation.  Mrs. 
VJ'oung  made  all  this  while  seve»-al  acquaintances, 
expended  much  money  on  her  toilette,  bought 
dresses  and  caps  by  dozens,  and  kept  the  house 
constantly  full  of  niilliners  and  mantua-makers ; 
and  when  she  was  thus  well  provided,  she  begged 
me  to  accompany  her  to  the  public  resorts  and 
private  company.  I  excused  myself  on  the  score 
of  my  youngest  •;hild,  and  pleaded  besides  my 
anxiety  on  account  of  my  husband,  who  was  so  far 
from  me.  I  confess,  that  I  feared,  moreover,  to 
expend  too  much  money.  "You  know,"  said  J, 
"  that  I  wait  for  money  from  Germany,  and  though 
my  husband  has  not  restricted  my  expenses,  I 
should  be  sorry  to  abuse  his  confidence."  She 
seemed  much  displeased  with  my  answer,  for  she 
was  anxious  to  walk  about,  and  imagined  that  she 
could  do  it  witli  more  decency,  accompanied  by 
a  lady,  than  alone.  She  was  now  nearly  as  rude  as 
she  had  formerlvbecn  civil :  and  the  worst  was,  that 


^<m 


"ySSfc,^ 


.Kr 


■^*  ,w>-»  li't-'  -B  \':'-^ 


87 


*    .\^ 


her  husband  spoke  in  higli  terms  of  my  attach- 
ment to  my  children,  for  whose  sake  I  preferred 
to  remain  at  home.  One  day  she  came  to  ask  me 
if  I  had  found  a  lodging  !  Tiieir  repeated  entrea- 
ties to  remain  longer  with  them,  had  made  me  for- 
get to  seek  one;  but  I  replied  that  I  had  taken 
measures  to  procure  one.  She  replied,  that  she 
could  recommend  me  one,  and  would  accompany 
me  to  see  it.  She  then  carried  me  to  a  miserable 
house,  situated  in  a  remote  and  dirty  street.  I 
confessed  that  such  lodgings  would  not  suit  me, 
and  that  I  would  rather  dispense  with  other  things 
than  with  good  lodgings,  which  (  wished  to  be  de- 
cent enough  to  receive  some  distinguished  ladies 
for  whom  I  had  letters  of  introduction.  She  re- 
plied, scoffingly,  that  I  was  so  saving  and  so  fond 
of  remaining  at  home,  that  she  thought  these  would 
answer  my  purpose. 

On  our  way  homeward,  I  saw  an  advertisement 
on  a  house  in  a  convenient  part  of  tlie  town.  I 
alighted  from  the  carriage,  and  met  with  apart- 
ments, rather  small,  but  neat  and  decent;  the  rent 
of  which  was  four  pounds  a  week.  I  observed 
that  this  was  more  than  I  couM  afford ;  but  that  I 
could  promise,  that  if  I  could  have  the  apartments 
at  a  reduced  price,  I  would  always  be  at  home 
early  in  the  evening,  so  that  the  house  could  be 
shut  at  10  o'clock.    The  landlady  looked  at  my 


itr 


It 


■,x. 


-T     .St   ■     , 


'f 


88 


children,  and  when  she  was  informed  of  my  histo- 
ry and  mishaps,  she  said  to  her  husband,  "Look; 
we  have  no  children  of  our  own,  and  these  would 
supply  their  place,  and  that  is  better  than  a  few 
guineas.**  She  then  offered  to  rent  me  the  apart- 
ments for  three  pounds  a  week ;  furniture,  kitchen- 
ware  and  linen  included.  I  immediately  took 
leave  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young,  and  went  to  my  new 
quarters,  where  I  was  very  comfortable,  not  only 
with  respect  to  the  lodging  itself,  but  from  the 
kind  manner  in  which  my  hosts  treated  me.  I 
candidly  confessed  that  I  intended  to  spend  as  lit- 
tle as  possible,  that  though  my  husband  had  left 
me  unrestricted  as  to  expense,  I  was  the  more  in- 
tent on  living  with  the  greatest  economy.  I  told 
them  also,  that  at  that  time,  my  whole  capital  con- 
sisted of  ten  guineas,  and  that  six  weeks  might 
pass  before  I  should  receive  a  fresh  remittance. 
"Well,"  replied  Mrs.  Russel,  my  new  landlady, 
"I  will  be  your  housekeeper, and  buy  the  bread  and 
meat  you  may  want;  all  the  rest  you  shall  have 
from  ourselves,  and  you  can  pay  for  all,  whenever 
most  convenient  to  yourself."  These  good  people 
amused  themselves  with  teaching  my  children  En- 
glish, and  I  left  them  to  their  care  when  I  went 
out.  When  I  was  about  to  depart  the  next  spring, 
I  found  the  honest  landlord  uncommonly  dejected, 
and  as  it  were,  careworn.     I  inquired  what  ailed 


.  •..'». 


t0' 


•9. 


V 


I.**.  viSf*  ,,.^r  ,.«■„.  .■,iis||P*'"^'^'^,,M,. 


y 


"Sr- 


89 


him.  "He  is  distressed  on  account  of  your  de- 
parture," answered  his  wife;  "but  principally  on 
that  of  your  little  Carolina,  and  he  has  desired  me 
to  beg  of  you  to  leave  her  to  our  care."  "What 
would  y  ;  do  with  her,"  said  I,  "in  case  I  should 
die."  "Fiom  the  moment  of  your  departure," 
she  replied,  "we  would  consider  her  as  our 
adopted  child,  and  make  her  heir  of  all  we  pos- 
sess." As  often  as  I  thought  of  buying  some  trifle 
for  the  children,  the  good  landlady  always  asked 
me  whether  the  expense  would  not  exceed  the 
limits  which  I  had  set  to  myself.  I  felt  quite  hap- 
py to  live  with  these  excellent  people,  and  I  had. 
so  much  the  more  reason  to  thank  Providence  that 
I  had  rid  myself  of  Mrs.  Young,  as  she  was  in  the 
sequel,  on  the  point  of  being  arrested  for  debts, 
apd  all  her  property  was  seized,  after  her  husband 
had  left  the  country  from  the  same  cause.  She 
was  obliged  to  depend,  at  last,  upon  the  humanity 
of  her  friends.  How  much  uneasiness  have  I  es- 
caped by  separating  myself  from  these  people  !  I 
cannot  enough  commend  the  behaviour  of  the 
English,  in  general,  towads  me.  Persons  with 
whom  I  had  no  friendship,  »,iTered  to  lend  me  as 
much  money  as  I  shoula  want;  and  when  I  ex- 
pressed my  astonishment  at  so  much  liberality, 
and  told  them  they  were  wrong  to  make  such  of- 
fors  to  a  person  who  might  have  assumed  a  re- 

8*  % 


l£ 


:« 


'^ 


r'4- 


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V 


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90 


I 


"^n'*» 


%, 


spcctable  name:  they  replied,  tliat  sv  'i  o  suspi- 
cion was  effectually  precluded  by  my  retired  mode 
of  living,  and  the  tenderness  which  I  showed  for 
my  children. 

I  WM  advised  to  present  myself  at  court,  thn 
Queen  having  expressed  a  desire  to  see  me.  1 
ordered  therefore  a  court-dress,  and  Lady  George 
Germain  introduced  me  to  her  Majesty.  This 
was  on  the  first  of  January,  1777.  The  saloon 
seemed  to  me  to  be  very  ugly,  and  the  furniture 
old-fashioned.  The  ladies  and  gentlemen  wero 
all  in  attendance  in  the  levee-room.  At  length 
the  King  entered,  preceded  by  three  Chamber- 
lains. Then  came  the  Queen,  her  train  born  by 
a  lady  and  followed  by  a  Chamberlain.  The  King 
went  round  to  the  right  and  the  Queen  to  the  left, 
and  neither  passed  any  one  without  addressing- 
some  words.  At  the  end  of  the  saloon  their  Ma- 
jesties met,  exchanged  low  obeisances,  and  return- 
ed to  the  side  from  which  they  had  entered.  I 
asked  Lady  Germain  how  I  must  behave,  and 
whether  (as  I  had  been  told,)  the  King  gave  a 
kiss  to  each  lady  who  was  presented  to  him.  She 
answered  that  it  was  only  the  usage  with  English 
Marchionesses,  and  that  I  had  nothing  to  do,  but 
to  stand  quiet  in  my  place.  I  was,  therefore,  much 
astonished,  at  receiving  that  attention  from  his 
Majesty ;  and  unexpected  as  it  came,  I  could  not 


I 


-Mr 


,!»" 


^  4        "! 


'TJ. 


M  • 


91 


ure  you,"  said  the 
■r"  hi  althy  and  tho 
'f  ine  again  a  gra- 
i   round.      I   whis- 


hclp  blusliing.  His  Majesty  immediately  asked 
me,  if  I  had  received  letters  from  my  husband.  I 
answered  that  my  last  were  ui)der  date  of  the  22d 
of  November.  "  He  is  well,"  said  the  King,  "  I 
have  inquired  about  him;  ev(  rv  body  is  satisfied 
with  him,  and  I  hope  that  '  o  will  not  suffer  from 
the  cold."  I  rejoined  that  1  too  indulged  in  that 
hope  the  more  rea<'  'y  '^e  w',  born  in  a  cold 
climate.  "  I  can  nior  o\ 
King,  "that  the  cou 
air  very  pure."  He  ii 
cious  bow  and  continm 
pered  to  Lady  Germain  that  tlie  King  had  natura- 
lized me  by  his  salutation.  The  Queen  approach- 
ed and  showed  me  also  great  affability.  She 
asked  me  how  long  it  was  since  I  arrived  in  Lon- 
don.'* I  said  "two  months."  "I  thought,"  return- 
ed the  Clueen,  "  that  it  was  longer." — "  I  arrived 
in  England  seven  months  ago,"  said  I,  "  but  have 
been  in  London  only  two  months." — "  How  are 
you  pleased  with  your  residence  here  ?"  asked  the 
dueen.  "  Very  well,  madam,"  I  answered,  "  but 
nil  my  thoughts  are  bent  on  Canada." — "  Have 
you  then  no  dread  of  the  sea  ?"  asked  her  Majesty 
again,  "  I  do  not  like  it." — "  Nor  I,  madam,"  I  re- 
plied ;  "  but  as  there  is  no  other  means  of  meeting 
my  husband,  I  shall  cheerfully  embark." — "  I  ad- 
mire your  spirit  and  resolution,"  said  the  Qneen^ 


.*^l 


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■'*,». 


I. 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Hiotographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


33  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


■s 


«^ 


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r* 


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92 


u 


for  it  is  a  great  undertaking,  especially  vvitl» 
three  children."  ^^ 

I  naturally  inferred  from  this  conversation,  that 
the  Queen  had  heard  of  me,  and  I  was  therefore, 
the  more  pleased  that  I  had  paid  my  duty  to  her 
Majesty.  After  the  levee  I  saw  all  the  Royal  in- 
fants, except  one,  who  was  ill.  They  were  ten  in 
number,  and  every  one  of  them  was  wonderfully 
beautiful. 

The  kind  reception,  with  which  I  had  been  ho- 
noured, encouraged  me  to  pay  my  duty  to  their 
Majesties  several  times.  In  the  spring,  when  I 
was  on  the  eve  of  departing  to  Portsmouth  in  or- 
der to  enabark,  I  took  leave  of  the  Q-ueen ;  and 
her  Majesty  asked  me  again  if  I  was  not  afraid 
of  the  terrible  voyage  I  was  to  undertake.  I  re- 
plied that  as  it  was  the  wish  of  my  husband,  I 
should  do  it  with  courage  and  pleasure,  in  the 
hope  of  fulfilling  a  duty,  and  that  I  was  sure  her 
Majesty  would  act  in  the  same  manner,  if  placed 
in  a  similar  situation.  "  Yes,"  replied  the  Queen, 
"  but  a  correspondent  of  mine  informs  me  that 
you  go,  without  the  knowledge  of  your  husband." 
I  replied  that  her  Majesty,  as  a  German  Princess, 
was  surely  convinced  that  I  could  not  do  it  with- 
out his  consent,  for  I  should  want  the  necessary 
money.  "  You  are  right,"  said  the  Queen,  "  and 
I  .approve  of  your  determination  and  wish  you  all 


,.^ 


't*"    -^ 


K. 


W^. 


d3 


imaginatiffi  success.  What  do  you  call  your  dhip? 
I  will  often  i||}uire  about  you,  and  I  hope  thit  on 
your  return  to  England,  you  will  come  and  see 
me.'* — She  was  as  good  as  her  word :  and  npt  on- 
ly inquired  aft^|jne,  but  sent  me  often  her  gracious 
compliments.  \^j.  .  •  i  -v^-  /^^  /;*<r  .  ^.v*^  ♦  "V* " 
General  Burgoyne  had  promised  my  husband, 
that  I  should  embark  with  him.  I  took  lord  George 
Germain's  advice,  who  told  me  that  a  man-of-war 
was  a  sure  conveyance ;  but  that  passengers  on 
board  of  one  are  entirely  dependant  oA  the  com- 
mander, as  lie  never  accepted  any  thing  either  for 
the  passage  or  the  provisions ;  and  that  I  should 
find  it  on  that  account  inconvenient,  especially  as 
I  had  children  with  me ;  and  he  advises  me,  to  go 
rather  in  a  merchant-ship.  A  rich  banker  in  Lon- 
don, Mr.  Watson,  a  most  worthy  gehtlen)an,  who 
had  already  thrice  filled  the  office  of  lord-mayor" 
of  that  metropolis,  (the  same  who,  while  bathing 
once  in  the  East  Indies,  had  his  leg  bitten  off  by 
a  shark,)  had  met  with  my  husband  in  Canada,  and 
promised  him  to  propure  a  passage  for  me  in  one  of 
his  own  ships.  General  Howe,  an  old  friend  of  my 
late  lamented  father,  and  my  own  friend,  advised 
me  to  accept  of  the  offer,  and,  for  my  greater  secu- 
rity, he  promised  to  procure  for  the  ship  a  letter  de 
marque,  and  two  officers,  with  sixty  soldiers.  This 
suited  Mr.  Watson  very  well,  as  it  would  every 


Ji 


]4 


f 


\*>i 


I      I 


m 


•jfcr' 


•■'<• 


^^«fe.' 


other  ship-owner,  though  at  the  same  time,  a  ves- 
sel fitted  out  in  that  way  is  obliged  to  fight,  if  met 
by  the  enemy.  Mr.  Watson  accompanied  me, to 
the  ship,  and  introduced  me  to  the  captain  and  the 
.whole  crew,  and  told  the  latter,  that  whoever 
should  commit  any  offence  againsLpe,  n^ould  in- 
cur the  same  responsibility,  as  if  the  offence  were 
committed  against  himself;  and  that  any  person 
of  whom  I  should  corn  plain,  might  be  sure  of  be- 
ing immediately  dismissed  from  his  employment. 

The  ship  was  s^pacious,  and  of  the  first  rate; 
and  all  the  accommodations  which  I  desired,  were 
presently  made.  *  ;r.  1  v  :.■  :;v ;  \  ■* 
'  To  gratify  my  husband,  1  wrote  to  Mrs.  Foy, 
and  proposed  to  her  to  liccompany  me.  She  ac- 
cepted my  offer,  and  all  past  differences  were 
soon  forgiven  and  forgotten.  We  met  at  Ports- 
•mouth;  and  on  the  15th  of  April,  at  4  o'clock  in 
tb^  afternoon,  we  embarked.  We  passed  the 
evening  in  arranging  our  things,  and  separated  foi 
the  night  at  9  o'clock.  ; .  .  •-: 


-■# 


^«v 


'> 


,■*=■ 


.^.■.■,,  ib--ijk>,' 


•.^,' 


■'■^-■''*'*i^>ms'^mmm-^ 


I 


■■i<i;j 


95 


^^w 


■,^'^:fe:^' 


■#■ 


Ca-ntinuation  of  the  Extracts  from  the  Correspondence. 


\^'t»^ 


LETTER  XXII. 


!F^- 


>.,• 


^^):    FROM  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  HIS  WIFE.  •     \ 

•     V    -^  *      > .  ;    -       ■     j,      Three  Rivers,  April  16, 1777. 

What  a  sudden  transition  from  happiness  to  sor- 
row !  At  the  Isle  aux  Noix,  I  received,  at  the 
end  of  our  late  campaign,  the  agreeable  intelli- 
gence, that  you  and  all  our  children  were  arrived 
in  safety  at  Quebec.  I  was  transported  with  the 
prospect  of  passing  an  agreeable  winter  in  your 
company,  and  in  the  enjoyment  of  domestic  bliss. 
But  how  great  was  my  disappointment  upon  my 
arrival  here,  when,  instead  of  finding  you,  I  re- 
ceived the  letter  wnich  you  sent  me  by  the  ship 
London,  informing  me'  that  you  had  postponed 
your  departure  till  spring.  This  was,  indeed,  like 
a  thunderbolt ;  and  my  only  consolation  was,  t#  ;* 
thank  God  that  you  and  our  deai  children  were  iri;* 
good  health.  • 

The  ship  London,  which  should  tiave  conveyed 
you  to  thi^  country,  reache^  Quebec  on  the  8th  of 
December,  without  having  met  with  any  accident. 


i*i- 


I 


I 


r; 


r 


M' 


^r 


■%„ 


^v 


.»-. 


.*^' 


V 


•■v» 


96 


1,  ^ji 


i^-,. 


I  had  procured  neat  lodgings  for  you  and  your  lit- 
tle ones,  and  furnished  them  as  well  aj^I  could, 
We  might  thus  haye  spent  a  most  delightful  win- 
ter. That  is  now  gone !  It  was  the  wiU,  of  God ; 
and  we  must  not^omplain,  but  submit  to  his  dis- 
{^sations.  I  have  in  vain  endeavoured  to  alle-' 
viate  my  sorrow  by  dissipation.  Ilflmained  from 
the  30th  of  December  until  tlie  16th  of  January  in 
duebec,  to  pay  my  duties  to  general  Carleton ; 
and  was  loaded  with  civilities  and  attentions. 
Since  my  return,  I  have  given  a  dinner,  a  ball, 
and  a  supper,  in  celebration  of  the  queen's  birth- 
day ;  and  afterwards  continued,  like  the  other  ge- 
nerals, to  give  once  every  week  a  supper  and  aii 
entertaihmeiit,  partly  to  gain  the  good  will  of  the 
inhabitants,  and  partly  to  provide  the  officers  with 
innocent  pleasures,  and  thus  prevent  them  from 
indulging  in  those  which  are  to  be  found  in  pub- 
lic* places  and  bad  company.  General  Phillips 
paid  me  a  visit  in  February.  I  have  inspected 
our  regiments  several  times  in  their  winter-quar- 
ters ;  and,  in  the  beginning  of  March,  I  received 
ji  visit  from  general  Carleton,  who  passed  all  our 
troops  in  review,  and  seemed  very  well  satisfied. 
I  accompanied  him  to  Montreal,  where  I  spent 
a  week  with  him  at  general  Phillips'.  On  his  way 
homeward,  he  passed  two  days  more  at  my  house. 
From  tha|^  time  I  have  made  many  excursions  to 


'# 


ft.. 


:l         i 


■,.p 


w 


inspect  our  regiments.  The  week  after  Easter,  I 
spent  alone  in  the  country,  the  better  to  fulfil  my 
religious  duties ;  and  now  that  the  weather  begins 
again  to  be  fine,  and  we  may  hope  for  some  ar- 
rivals from  Europe,  and  to  be  able  to  despatch 
vessels,  I  nr^e  haste  to  write  to  you,  inasnrach 
as  I  am  yeiignorant  when  you  will  come,  if,  in- 
deed, you  come  at  all,  and  am  unwilling  that  you 
should  be  without  news  of  me.  Yet  I  should  be 
glad  to  find  that  I  have  written  the  letter  unne- 
cessarily, if  I  might  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  seeing 
you  arrive  by  the  first  ship. 

I  have  already  written  you  a  brief  account  of 
all  my  doings  during  the  last  winter  ;  and  I  must 
only  add,  (to  give  you  an  idea  of  the  rapidity  with 
which  we  travel  here  in  sledges,)  that  from  the 
20th  of  February  till  the  10th  of  April,  I  have 
travelled  over  five  hundred  and  eighty  French 
leagues,  or  four  hundred  and  thirty-five  German 
miles,  partly  on  the  snow,  but  chiefly  on  the  St. 
Lawrence.  I  cannot  yet  tell  when  the  army  will 
be  put  in  motion  towards  New-England.  If  you 
come,  as  I  still  hope  you  will,  pray  remain  a  few 
days  in  Quebec,  where  you  will  find  your  lodgings 
ready,  at  my  worthy  friend's,  Mr.  Murray,  whose 
wife  is  an  accomplished  woman,  and  will  please 
you,  and  should  we  be  already  on  our  march,  you 
may  go  to  Three-Rivers,  where  you  will  find  my 

9  .    .A:- 


^r 

I  I 


•*i* 


'^'tl 


f> 


■  *  ■ 


•■:m 


i$."^jS!iKtsi 


« 


''^W--', 


^' 


r. 


«v 


r>»'f 


'1- 


» 


;*» 


t*- 


.^^■ 


>» 


(quarters  in  readiness  and  vacant,  to  which  end  1 
propose  leaving  there  a  part  of  my  baggage.  The 
grand-vicar,  Mr.  Saintonge,  will  hand  you  the 
keys,  and  he,  as  also. the  Tonnaucourts,  will  pro- 
vide you  with  every  thing  that  you  may  want. 

You  will  find  the  garden  pleasant  for  walking, 
and  excellent  for  the  kitchen ;  and^'Vou  m&y  re- 
main at  Three-Rivers  until  we  obtain  a  footing 
upon  the  sea-coast  of  New-England,  when  I  will 
take  care  to  provide  a  large  ship,  commanded  by  an 
intelligent  officer,  for  your  voyage  thither,  due- 
bee  may  possibly  not  please  you,  and  general 
Carleton's  wife  will  not  be  much  to  your  taste,  for 
she  is  far  too  haughty.  But  Mrs.  Murray  is  aworthy 
woman,  and  all  our  officers  think  that  she  resem- 
bles you,  on  which  account  I  have  always  found 
her  more  agreeable  than  all  the  other  ladies.  In 
Three-Rivers  you  will  find  three  families,  who  will 
be  very  attentive  to  you,  and  do  every  thing  in  the 
world  to  please  you :  first,  that  of  the  grand-vicar, 
who  has  a  cousin  of  the  name  of  Cabenac,  a  girl 
of  much  understanding,  and  who,  t  am  sure,  will 
please  you;  secondly,  Mr.  Tonnaucourt,  who  is 
colonel  of  the  militia,  and  a  widower,  with  three 
daughters,  who  have  received  a  good  education, 
and  will  be  very  agreeable  companions  to  you  • 
and  thirdly,  the  whole  nunnery,  which  is,  at  the 
same  time,  a  school  for  girls,  and  where  our  two 


Ai 


m- 


m^ 


■:s£f^.^ 


i'p 


M 


■A 


If 


.■*f  "U 


'M:'»  '-ft 


.H.; 


?',.^-' 


^iL^ 


r'    \ 


^ 


oldest  daughters  would  make  pleasant  acquaint- 
ances. I  think  you  will  prefer  Three-Rivers  to 
Quebec  on  the  score  of  cheapness.  Every  thing 
there  costs  one  half  less  th9|i  in  Quebec  or  Mon- 
treal. "•  '* 

I  send  duplicates  of  this  letter,  one  to  England, 
in  case  that  you  have  not  embarked,  and  the  other 
to  Quebec,  to  the  care  of  Mrs.  Murray.      '  «    - 


.^. 


•'^,  f. 


..▼ 


>. 

.« 


%■  ■^- 


K  . 


LETTER  XXIII. 


FROM  THE  SAME  TO  THE  SA.ME. 


.      ,  t  Three- Rivers,  June  5, 1777. 

My  dear  wife, — On  the  6th  ult-  General  Bur- 
goyne  arrived  here  from  England  and  brought  me 
the  agreeable  news  that  you  were  about  taking 
passage  on  board  Mr.  Watson's  ship.  I  have  there- 
fore been  anxiously  waiting  for  you,  through  the 
whole  of  the  last  month,  and  am  now  oblige^,  in 
consequence  of  the  tardiness  of  your  vessel,  no 
leave  this  place  without  having  enjoyed  the  plea- 
sure of  seeing  you,  which  grieves  me  extremely. 
But  as  we  cannot  help  it  we  must  submit,  without 
murmuring,  to  the  will  of  Providence  who  disposes 


.^- :<■!•. 


,i^i.. 


.4- 


?«'' 


2g!W^w-ii¥' 


u. 


■^ 


•i 


Mry  , 


«'*«T^.'*'*» 


■  4  ■■':■:" 


-^ 


rTVifrr"^-^?' 


4,- 


) 


Is 


100 


ivery  tiling  lor  tlie  best,  and  more  for  our  convo- 
nience  than  we  are  often  aware  of.  "*'    * 

I  depart  this  moment  for  St.  John,  from  whence 
we  shall  proceed  through  Lake  Champlain  to  New- 
England.  I  leave  it  to  you  to  determine  whether 
you  will  do  better  to  remain  at  Quebec,  Three- 
Rivers,  or  Montreal.  I  still  believe  that  Three- 
Rivers  will  suit  you  the  best,  because  every  thing 
is  so  much  cheaper  there,  and  because  you  will  find 
a  furnished  house  and  will  enjoy  the  society  of 
Germans ;  Lieutenant-colonel  Ehrenkron  is  the 
conmiander  of  the  place.  Besides,  you  are  then 
nearer  our  treasury  and  will  never  be  without  mo- 
ney. I  leave  you  a  good  provision  of  wine  and  se- 
veral other  things,  and  commission  the  "  Captain 
d'Armes,"  Biihring  to  assist  and  advise  you  in 
your  domestic  arrangements.  Your  attendants 
can  take  their  rations  from  the  provision  office.  I 
am  sure  that  the  inhabitants  will  be  very  kind  to 
you,  inasmuch  as  I  flatter  myself  that  I  generally 
stand  well  with  them. 

>  Whenever  you  wish  to  drive  out  with  your  chil- 
dren, you  need  only  order  post-horses,  and  you  pay 
but  one  shilling  for  the  French  league.  Be  with- 
al sure  that  I  will  not  leave  you  long  here,  but  that 
I  shall  send  for  you  as  soon  as  the  situation  of  our 
affairs  will  permit. 

Adieu,  liiy  dear  wife.    My  heart  sinks  within  mo 


[■<*- 


?y1-^ 


%    •       ■' 


.y 


^,»»»r'<i»-»«. 


%s 


r*4^^%*' 


..■^; 


'i,' 


'^ 


101 


when  I  think  that  I«iuit  leave  thii  place  without 
seeing  you ;  hui  I  jC|»mfort  myself  with  the  tiopo 
that  we  shall  not  be  Separated  much  longer. 


.«,     !« 


LETTER  XXIV. 


FROM  THK  SAME  TO  THX,SAME. 


11, 

w 

# 

* 

v;*  Chambly,  Juae  10,  1777. 

Though  far  distant  from  you,  my  dear  wife,  I  am  ^ 
always  near  you  in  thought,  and  am  now  seeking 
solitude  in  order  to  write  to  you  and  to  muse  on  the 
sweet  recollection  of  the  time  we  hfty^i  passe^d^o- 
gether."       ^■^'■■■^    ■  .        ^ .  ^..-.^w/fc'.f^^,:-.  , 

A  few  days  before  our  departure  from  Three- 
Rivers,  I  was  imprudent  enough  to  sleep  with  an 
open  window,  and  in  consequence  caught  a  fever, 
which  abated  on  the  6th  of  June,  the  day  of  our  de- 
parture, but  left  me  somewhat  weak  on  the  first 
day  of  our  march.  I  am,  however,  now  perfectly 
're-established,  and  to-morrow  we  shall  set  out  for 
St.  John,  where  we  shall  prepare  our  boats.  I 
trust  that  you  are  arrived  *af  Quebecby  this  time, 
and  I  wait  for  your  first  letter  with  the  greatest 
anxiety.  I  shall  want  courage  to  open  it,  for  fear 
-  9* 


X 


uW. 


-5c:' 


'•e«r 


W.' 


4 


;§^^ 


1  * 


i- 


^<» 


'.S 


A    - 


;* 


;♦ 
'«*♦ 


I*  f 


•' 


102 


of  learning  that  you  or  one  of  our  children  .liAve 

r       i^^  met* with  some  misfortune,  durinf  your  voyage; 

^' .  'V*^         but  as  soon  as  I  shall  have  been  iriformed  that  you 

'V  and  the  children  are  well,  I  will  thank  God  with  a 

, '    .'P    ^  .^'  joyful  heart,  and  our  separation  shall  then  soon  be 

*  <f  4  ^y^^fi  ^or  I  will  aeiicl  for  you  as  soon  as  things  shall 

<  become  somewhat  more  tranquil. 

'}^      y  I  have  not  time  to  wlrite  a  longer  letter.    Farc- 

^R^  well ;  be  not  fearful.     God  will  be  your  protector 

and  mine  in  all  that  may  yet  await  us. 


,i;  1^^ 


;**^:^ 


1^- 


'if. 


.♦: 


■* 


I. 


'^4 


.  Al 


.•^•-     ,;-\        ♦».-. 


p^' 


-.V-*-- 


^'a'' 


V* 


■r 


-%:3- 


'W>! 


f    4 


103 


^:...T5S^;, 

!9fS9" 

'J 

/; 

.♦        # 

i 

r« 

•• 

...            < 

M 

• 

••- 

*?^| 
^    •»''■            I 

y 

1^ 


•a  • 


Diary  of  Mad.  de  Riedesel  during  her  voyage  from        ' 
fortmouth  to  Quebecy  untHJIiffj^  arrival  at  the  latifry.    , 
place.       «       -  •*  \  '  i 

On  the  16th  of  April',  1777,  when  the  signal  had  ** 
been  given  from  the  Blonde,  we  departed,  thirty- 
one  sail  strong,  from  Spithead  for  St.  Helens,  to 
meet  there  the  other  man-of-war,  the  Porpoise,  J^ 
destined  to  escort  the  convoy.  We  were  all  of  us 
sick  the  whole  day,  especially  while  at  anchor ; 
for  I  thirik  the  motion  of  the  ship  is  then  much 
more  disagreeable  than  at  other  times.  ''%■  ■  *^'« 

On  the  17th,  the  wind  became  stronger,  and  on 
the  18th,  at  6  o'clock  in  the  morning,  on  a  second 
signal,  we  set  sail,  to  the  great  satisfaction  of  us 
all.      .        .  \  ,      ^'^ 'V: 

On  the  19th,  we  passed  Plymouth,  with  a  fa- 
vourable wind.  Most  of  us  had  recovered  our 
health,  and  I  and  my  children  were  as  well  as  on 
land.  •  The  weather  was  so  fine,  that  we  danced 
on  the  deck.  Our  orchestra  consisted  <^  two 
drummers  and  an  excellent  fifer.        '•f^  '^^ 


J!^- 


;■•»»' ^^ 


From  the  20th  until  the  23d  inclusive,  we  had 
contrary  winds,   heavy   seas,   and   cloudy  skies,  ,-v  -   -^ 


1.      .■ ' 


K 


'  '^^', 


'  I  It- 


'^^■J 


>.# 


f- 


Hi* 


r'-.*> 


^i 


•■V*. 


^*- 


,  ,.t  jtv: .    .,i»t^     ,-  -• .  .1^ 


■-*/ 


€ 


•r-^^; 


^^fifj: ' 


4 


,104 

Every  body  was  sick,  except  myself,  who  wanted 
time  to  partake  of  the  general  calamity,  aa  my 
servants  were  among  the  most  afflicted,  and  I  was 
obliged  to  attend  to  my  three  children.  I  verily 
believe,  that  the  beit  remedy  for  sea-sickness  is 
constant  occupation;  Ibr  on  the  first  day  I  sufer^ 
ed  as  much  as  the  others;,  but  wheji  I  saw  my 
children  sick  and  without  assistance,  my  whole 
thoughts  were  bei^  upon  diem,  and  from  that  mo- 
ment I  mended^  and  soon  regained  a  gotid  appe- 
tite*^: In  fact,  OB^\  life,  durmg  a  voyage,  passes 
with  eating  and  drinking:  we  had  daily  four,  and 
sometimes  five  or  six  excellent  dishes.  On  rising, 
I  took  my  breakfast  in  ray  cabin,^  washed  and 
dressed  my  children,  made  my  own  Coilet,  and 
then  went  on  deck.  Whenevel^  nothing  prevent- 
ed! I  worked.  We  dined  at  2  o^clock,  took  tea 
at  6,  and  at  '8  I  put  my  children  to  bed.  After 
this  I  supped,  and  at  10  retired  to  rest.  My  eldest 
daughter,  Augusta,  was  for  two  days  very  sick, 
but  after  that  she  enjoyed  better  health  than  ever ; 
the  two  others  were  but  very  slightly  affected  by 
the  sea,  and  all  the  three  had  an  excellent  appe- 
tite.     .  .    ■ 

O]^  the  24th,  the  weather  was  fair,  but  cool,  and 
the  wind  feeble. 

On  the  25th,  we  had  scarcely  any  winid,  and  made 
110  progress.     Our  rudder  broke,  but  the  captain, 


who  un 

repairec 

Perht 

gave  m( 

did  not 

picted  i 

venture! 

acted  a( 

fectly  fr 

would  c 

dear  hus 

servants 

dence,  a 

them,  fo 

a  belove 

ren,  wh< 

verest  si 

main  or 

being  si( 

Onth 
and  we 

Onth 
edifying 
knees,  p 
evening 
increase 
but  not 
1  topplei 


105 


who  understood  his  business,  had  it  immediately 
repaired.     We  had  then  made  only  250  miles. 

Perhaps  the  h  jpe  of  shortly  seeing  my  husband, 
gave  me  uncommon  spirits;  but  indeed  the  sea 
did  not  seem  to  me  so  dreadful  as  some  had  de- 
picted it;  and  I  felt  not  the  least  regret  at  having 
ventured  myself  upon  it.  Conscious  of  having 
acted  according  to  the  dictates  of  duty,  I  was  per- 
fectly free  from  anxiety,  trusting  in  God  that  He 
would  conduct  me  in  safety  to  the  arms  of  my 
dear  husband.  I  would  gladly  have  sent  back  my 
servants,  who  had  much  less  courage  and  confi- 
dence, and  were  of  no  us^:  to  me.  I  had  pity  for 
them,  for  they  had  not  the  prospect  of  recovering 
a  beloved  and  excellent  companion.  The  child- 
ren, when  I  asked  them  in  the  midst  of  their  se- 
verest suffering,  whether  they  would  prefer  to  re- 
main or  return,  answered,  "  We  do  not  care  about 
being  sick,  if  we  can  only  go  to  papa." 

On  the  26th,  the  wind  became  again  favourable, 
and  we  made  our  way. 

On  the  27th,  we  had  divine  service.  It  was  an 
edifying  spectacle  to  see  the  whole  crew  on  their 
knees,  praying  with  fervour.  In  the  course  of  the 
evening  the  wind  changed,  and  the  ship's  motion 
increased  so  much,  that  we  were  all  again  sick, 
but  not  so  much  as  at  the  beginning  of  our  voyage. 
J  toppled  several  times,  and  one  of  my  daughters 


^■' 


•t 


■»»r- 


^^f^^ 


106 


-f*' 


.* 


d  a  finger  bruised  by  a  door  that  was  unKihjg^d, 
and  the  other  had  her  chin  wounded.  ^V  ^ 

\>On  the  2d  of  May,  we  were  650  miles  from 
Portsmouth. 

From  the  3d  till  the  6th,  we  had  contraVy  winds 
and  squalls,  and  on  the  4th  we  had  no  divine  ser- 
vice, on  account  of  the  continued  bad  weather. — 
The  ship  was  so  much  tossed  by  squalls  during 
the  night,  from  the  5th  to  the  6th,  that  we  could 
not  sleep  a  moment,  and  I  was  in  a  continual 
dread  of  crushing  one  of  my  children,  for  they 
were  all  in  my  birth.  Frederica  never  went  to 
bed  without  praying  for  her  father,  and  once  she 
said;  to  me  "I  long  to  see  papa."  I  asked  her 
what  she  would  pray  for  after  she  should  have  en- 
joyed that  pleasure.  "Oh!"  cried  she,  "I  would 
pray  to  God  every  day  of  my  life,  never  to  be  se- 
parated again  from  my  father."  I  looked  on  the 
child  with  deep  emotion. 

On  the  6th  towards  noon  the  wind  changed  at 
last,  and  we  had  it  very  fair  the  next  day  and  made 
130  miles  in  24  hours,  upon  which  every  body  on 
board  was  mightily  gay,  and  visits  were  exchanged 
from  one  ship  to  another.  On  board  the  Henry, 
which  conveyed  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  of 
our  troops,  they  had  the  courtesy  to  hoist  the  co- 
lours and  to  shout,  "  Long  live  our  general  and 
his  lady."     I  answered,  "  Long  live  the  passen- 


■-■■A 


.1        . 


,,,,.  ^-  -f  .  rf  .  .■^- ■_»*■♦  i%ft^,t^--*^:- 


A\    ,.^...<^$^. 


m    ,i,Jki^'*>',\f<JL^r^Uittg^*'"*lS;,^  ■ 


.V 


:..J 


■f 

linged, 

',a  from 

y  winds 
ine  ser- 
ther. — 

during 
e  could 
)ntinual 
'or  they 
went  to 
►nee  she 
ked  her 
lave  en- 
I  would 
o  be  se- 

on  tho 


*  107 

gera-oC  the  sh  >.  Henry,"  holding  up  my  three  chil- 
dren, to  show  my  greatest  treasure.    Thereupon 
they  broke  out  into  huzza ! .  huzza !  and  throwing 
themselves  on    their  knees,    they  sang  hymns. 
How  could  I  have  been  otherwise  than  deeply 
moved  at  this  scene  .'*     The  Porpoise,  approach- 
ed our  vessel  almost  every  day,  to  inquire  after  my 
health  and  to  tender  offers  of  services.    The  cap- 
tain of  that  ship  had  carried  my  husband  to  Cana- 
da, and  was  indebted  to  him  for  his  promotion  to 
the  rank  of  captain.     He  had  now  amongst  his 
passengers  a  colonel  Skin,  governor  of  the  pro-  \ 
vince  of  Georgia,  and  his  son,  whose  acquaintance 
I  had  made  in  Portsmouth,  and  who  had  offered 
me  a  loan  of  two  hundred  guineas  if  I  wanted 
them.     Although  I  had  no  occasion  for  accepting 
their  offer,  I  cannot  but  remember  their  kindness 
with  gratitude. 

We  met  on  the  8th  with  a  sail  which  at  first  we 
took  for  an  American.  Tliough  we  had  nothing 
to  fear,  I  was  nevertheless  somewhat  uneasy,  for 
a  naval  engagement  was  not  amongst  the  specta- 
cles that  I  was  the  most  desirous  of  witnessing.  The 
Blonde  lost  three  men  in  consequence  of  the  part- 
ing of  a  rope  ;  another  who  fell  likewise  in  the 
sea,  was  saved. 

On  the  9th  we  had  made  a  thousand  miles,  or 
the  third  part  of  our  voyage. 


f- 


'& 


i^ 


^'      iS 


1-, 


J 


•!st» 


'K 


::>- 


i'~'  . 


::^-;y 


;-f  'i 


'">~-^ 


108 

We  had  fair  wind  until  the  11th,  and  went  on 
that  day  at  the  rate  of  one  knot  the  hour.  Divine 
service  was  performed,  and  our  soldiers  were  drawn 
up  in  parade.  ' 

On  the  12th,  the  weather  was  fair,  but  the  winds 
ahead  ;  it  became  better  on  the  13th,  but  on  the 
14th  it  was  changeable  and  the  atmosphere  sa  fog- 
gy during  the  night,  that  the  vessels  were  continu- 
ally in  danger  of  running  foul  of  each  other. 

On  the  15th,  it  rained  the  whole  day,  and  it  was 
very  cold  ;  yet  until  noon  the  wind  was  fair ;  but 
then  it  changed,  and  we  had  from  the  16th  until 
the  21st,  contrary  winds,  generally  bad  and  very 
cold  weather,  and  what  was  still  worse,  the  cap- 
tain of  the  Blonde,  one  of  the  ships  of  war  which 
conveyed  us,  having  no  practical  knowledge  of 
this  part  of  the  Atlantic,  had  sailed  too  far  to  the 
north,  by  which  we  ran  five  hundred  miles  in  that 
direction  and  were  obliged  to  wait  for  a  northerly 
wind  to  reach  the  Banks  of  Newfoundland. 

On  the  22d,  with  full-moon,  the  wind  became 
favourable,  which  gave  us  all  great  joy. 

On  the  23d,  the  wind  was  again  unsteady.  We 
saw  the  Banks  but  could  not  reach  them.  I  thought 
of  the  fox  and  the  grapes  in  the  fable  and  could 
have  wept.  We  had  been  now  five  weeks  at  sea 
and  had  not  made  more  than  1660  miles.  The 
weather  was  so  dark  that  the  ships  of  war  were 


■*»f 


109 


t  *    : 


ubliged  to  fire  guns  every  hour  to  keep  the  convoy 
together. 

One  of  the  transports,  the  Silver-Eel,  lost  one 
of  her  masts,  and  during  the  night  she  separated 
entirely  from  us,  with  the  Porpoise,  which  made 
me  somewhat  uneasy,  for  my  whole  baggage,  my 
husband's  wine  and  regimentals  were  on  board  of 
that  ship :  but  they  joined  us  again  on  the  30th. 

On  the  24th  and  25th,  the  sky  was  very  clear  but 
the  wind  still  unfavourable. 

The  wind  having  become  fair,  we  reached,  on 
the  26th,  the  Banks.  Our  cook  caught  and 
presented  me  a  large  cod-fish.  Our  captain, 
who  was  an  old  intimate  acquaintance  of  Mrs. 
Foy,  was  not  much  pleased  with  that  preference 
shown  to  me,  and  snatched  the  fish  from  my  hands 
and  fiung  it  into  the  sea;  but  I  rewarded  the  good 
fellow's  civility  with  a  guinea.  We  caught  no- 
thing more  the  whole  day ;  but  I  had  the  joy  of 
receiving  from  the  captain  of  the  Porpoise  four 
cod-fishes,  bound  on  a  board  and  fastened  with  a 
string,  so  that  they  could  be  thrown  again  into  tho 
sea.  I  treated  on  them  the  whole  ship's  company, 
as  if  nothing  had  happened;  but  the  captain 
seemed  so  much  the  more  ashamed  at  his  incivility 
towards  me. 

This  was  not  the  only  displeasure  which  Mrs. 
Foy  caused  me ;  and  I  had,  on  the  contrary,  fre- 

10 


?!»■ 


^^- 


110 


4'  i- 


I 


quent  occasions  to  regret  that  I  had  urged  her  to 
accompany  me ;  for  her  sister,  who  was  with  her, 
did  not  behave  in  a  very  lady-like  manner,  and 
was  besides  very  capricious ;  and  for  her  old  inti- 
macy with  the  captain,  Mrs.  Foy  could  not  avoid 
the  liberties  which  he  was  used  to  take  with  her. 
Her  maid,  a  most  beautiful  girl,  had  embarked 
only  to  leave  a  country  where  she  already  was"  too 
much  known,  and  in  hopes  of  finding  among  the 
sailors  that  sort  of  friends  whom  she  liked  best. 
One  day  a  theft  was  discovered  in  the  captain's 
wine  store ;  and  my  poor  Rockel  was  suspected  of 
it :  I  felt  deeply  for  that  honest  man.  But  fortu- 
nately, one  night,  when  Miss  Nancy  (for  this  was 
the  maid's  name)  was  pilfering  the  captain's  wine, 
the  ship  tossed,  on  a  sudden,  with  such  a  violence, 
that  she  fell  down  with  two  bottles  in  her  hands, 
and  uttered  such  a  cry  as  to  make  the  people  run 
towards  her,  upon  which  her  theft  was  discovered. 
She  alleged  that  the  leader  of  the  soldiers  had  di- 
rected her  to  bring  him  some  wine.  This  man 
was  an  old  sot,  who  often  spent  with  her  whole 
nights  in  the  fore-cabin,  and  generally  on  Satur- 
days, when  it  was  usual  to  spend  the  evening  in 
drinking  the  health  of  "  wives  and  sweethearts.'' 
Fortunately  I  had  won  the  good  will  of  the  lieu- 
tenant, the  inferior  officers,  and  the  pilot,  by  sha- 
ring my  meal  with  their  wives  and  children.  They 


\ 


SHl.:, 


Ill 


all  canie  to  ine  one  night,  when  the  maid  and  her 
drunkard  made  the  most  noise,  and  protested  that 
tliey  felt  deeply  for  me,  but  they  had  kept  an  eye 
upon  them ;  and  had  these  wretches  dared  any 
thing  against  me,,  they  would  have  run  to  my  as- 
sistance ;  and  they  volunteered  to  watch  likewise 
on  the  following  Saturday.  I  could  not  help  be- 
ing grateful  for  their  kindness,  and  felt  since,  less 
uneasiness.  •  - 

From  the  27th  to  the  29th,  the  weather  was  fine 
and  the  wind  fair.  On  board  the  Blonde,  they 
caught  about  a  hundred  fish,  mostly  cod,  some  of 
which  weighed  fifty  pounds,  and  all  very  fine. 
They  were  cured  and  put  to  dry  about  the  rigging, 
so  that  they  were  preserved.  ^„ 

On  the  30th,  we  had  the  finest  weather  imagi- 
nable, but  not  a  breath  of  wind;  it  was  a  glorious 
sight  to  see  about  thirty  ships  on  the  sea,  which 
was  like  a  mirror.  We  had  now  passed  the  great 
Bank,  and  had  accomplished  two  thirds  of  our 
voyage,  being  2112  miles  from  Portsmouth.  We 
saw  a  great  number  of  whales  close  to  our  ship, 
the  smallest  of  which  were  from  35  to  40  feet  in 
length. 

On  the  31st,  we  had  the  joy  of  seeing,  for  the 
first  time,  land  again.  It  is  called  Chapeau  Rouge. 
My  heart  throbbed  with  delight.  We  passed  in 
the  afternoon  Isle  de  St.  Pierre. 


\  1 


-'■^,. 


3 


)»fc. 


%" 


112 


On  the  1st  of  June,  the  weather  was  rainy,  but 
the  wind  fair. 

On  the  2d,  we  had,  at  first,  calm,  but  afterward 
good  wind,  and  passed  the  Isle  of  St.  Paul  and 
Cape  Breton. 

On  the  following  day,  we  entered  the  gulf  of 
St.  Lawrence,  and  saw  Port  islands,  which  are  a 
mass  of  rocks. — This  was  my  husband's  birth-day. 
My  heart  was  filled  with  mixed  feelings  of  joy  and 
anxiety,  and  fond  yearnings  at  the  thought  of  see- 
ing him  soon,  of  holding  him  in  my  arms,  and  of 
presenting  him  our  dear  children. 

On  the  4th,  we  entered  the  river  St.  Lawrence, 
and  saw  on  our  left  a  hilly  shore.  We  met  with 
a  multitude  of  vessels,  which  were  making  sail 
towards  Europe,  but  the  wind  blew  so  fresh,  that 
we  could  not  speak  to  them.  Some  persons  in 
our  vessel  thought  they  had  seen  soldiers  on  their 
decks,  which  made  me  very  uneasy  until  we  reach- 
ed land,  for  the  idea  of  going  to  a  distant  country, 
from  which  my  husband  had  just  departed  for  Eu- 
rope, was  indeed  dreadful. 

We  passed  the  island  of  Anticosty  in  the  night, 
of  the  6th.  On  that  day,  we  saw  already  valleys 
and  mountains  on  our  right  and  our  left,  and  were 
now  as  far  as  two  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
sixty  miles  from  Portsmouth.  My  impatience  in- 
creased hourly,  and  I  worked  the  whole  day  to  di- 


..ViMXid^' 


( ^ 


113 


vert  my  anxieties.  I  had  already  knit  a  double 
night-cap,  two  purses,  and  several  caps,  fbr  myself 
and  my  children,  and  made  many  other  little 
things  of  that  sort. 

We  had,  on  the  7th,  contrary  winds. 

On  the  8th,  the  wind  was  fair  again,  and  wc 
were  now  within  160  miles  of  Quebec. 

On  the  9th,  we  had  calm  weather,  and  anchored 
at  the  island  of  Pot  de  Brande. 

On  the  10th,  at  4  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we 
weighed  our  anchors,  and  we  had  now  passed  all 
the  dangerous  places.  Both  banks  of  the  river 
present  here  a  beautiful  landscape :  the  houses, 
the  falls  of  Montmorency,  and  afterwards  Que- 
bec, within  the  sight  of  which  we  were. 

On  the  11th,  at  10  o'clock,  my  whole  frame 
was  in  commotion  at  the  delightful  view  of  the 
long  wished-for  end  of  our  voyage.  The  sight  of 
Quebec,  at  a  distance,  is  very  fine ;  and  while  sur- 
veying the  noble  scene  which  was  lying  before 
nie,  I  remembered  the  captivating  description 
which  Mrs.  Emily  Montagu  has  given  of  it  in  her 
K;tters,*  and  which  is  very  exact.     But  the  inte- 


.4- 


1 

^4 


•■  ■« 


M 


•;.)f^i 


ffi-    i 


:  M 


*  Mad.  (le  Riedesel  means  Mrs.  Brookes'  "  Emily  Monta- 
gu."'* The  author  of  the  "  Travels  through  the  interior  part  of 
America,  in  a  series  of  Letters,"  (lieutenant  Auburey,)  who  had 

10* 


*•■■•??• 


all^ 


.«* 


I 


f.ri^'HOk.i.H^'.i.  J.e 


4  .      • 


iifj^* 


f  h, 


m  \  4t^ 


i"4 


hU 


v 


J  .r^-  ii 


Ft- 


f  *> 


rior  of  the  city  is  as  unsightly  as  possible,  and  one 
is  much* fatigued  at  walking  through  its  streets,  on 
account  of  its  mountainous  situation.  There  are, 
besides,  few  handsome  houses ;  but  the  inhabi- 
tants are  civil.  While  we  anchored,  I  had  an  ad- 
ditional pleasure.  Our  captain  who  had  behaved 
ill  towards  me,  in  consequence  of  the  relation^  in 
which  he  stood  to  Mrs.  Foy,  but  who  was,  upon 
the  whole,  a  good  sort  of  man,  came  to  beg  my 
pardon,  and  asked  of  me  to  intercede  for  exempt- 
ing his  sailors  from  impressment,  for  an  order  had 
been  given  to  examine  every  ship  at  its  arrival, 
and  if  the  crew  was  more  numerous  than  neces- 
sary, part  of  them  were  taken  for  the  king's 
ships.  I  made  an  application  to  that  effect,  and 
with  good  success. 

As  soon  as  they  heard  of  my  arrival  in  Quebec,  all 
the  vessels  which  were  in  the  harbour  fired  salutes, 
and  at  noon,  we  saw  a  boat  approaching,  manned 
with  twelve  sailors  dressed  in  white,  and  with  sil- 
ver helmets  and  green  sashes,  who  came  for  me, 
and  brought  me  a  letter  from  my  husband,  inform- 


reached  Quebec  but  a  few  months  before  Mad.  de  Riedesel. 
thought  that,  in  consequence  of  the  devastations  occasioned  during 
the  last  siege,  Quebec  "  would  by  no  means  answer  the  beau- 
tiful description  given  by  that  elegant  writer  Mrs.  Brookes,  in 
her  *♦  Emily  Montagu."    Vol.  1,  p.  150. 


life- 


^W     I   W"* 


? ' 


115 


ing  me  that  he  had  been  obliged  to  join  the  army. 
This  intelligence,  of  course,  made  me  very  uneasy, 
and  grieved  me,  but  I  soon  determined  upon  fol- 
lowing him,  if  it  were  but  to  spend  with  him  a  few 
(lays.  I  went  into  the  boat  with  all  those  who  be- 
longed to  me,  and  I  asked  leave  to  take  also  Mrs. 
Foy  and  her  sister,  by  which  I  had  the  gratifica- 
tion to  make  them  feel  ashamed  of  the  displeasure 
they  had  given  me :  and  we  landed  safely,  about  one 
o'clock,  after  a  voyage  of  eight  weeks.  A  vehicle 
with  one  horse,  was  waiting  for  me.  Lady  Carleton 
liad  sent  it,  with  a  message,  requesting  me  to  take 
my  lodgings  in  her  house,  and  to  dine  with  her. 
I  accepted  of  the  latter  invitation,  because  I  was 
determined  to  set  out  immediately  to  join  my  hus- 
band. At  general  Carleton's,  I  was  received  by 
every  body  in  a  very  affectionate  manner,  and  all 
seemed  at  a  loss  to  express  to  me  the  pleasure 
which  my  arrival  gave  them,  and  assured  me  that 
my  husband  would  feel  happy  at  it.  As  soon  as 
lady  Carleton  was  informed  of  the  approach  of  the 
convoy,  and  that  I  was  on  board  of  one  of  the 
ships,  she  had  despatched  a  messenger  to  sir  Guy, 
to  apprise  him  of  my  arrival,  in  order  that  he  might 
inform  my  husband.  They  had  seen  at  Quebec 
no  German  women,  except  some  soldiers'  wives, 
dressed  with  jackets,  short  cloaks,  round  caps, 
and  they  fancied  that  this  was  our  national  cos- 


^ 


h 


..te,i'- 


■I  V 

f 

II 


5        * 


no 


^1 


imru  (||i»y  were  much  astonished  at  tinding  hk 
dressed  like  an  English  woman.  The  Canadians 
of  the  lower  <:lnsse8  wear  large  clonks  of  sr.arlel 
cloth  :  the  wealthy  Indies  have  cloakb  of  thp  same 
si/c,  bill  ^f  silk  ;  and  they  never  go  abroad  with- 
out that  article  of  dress.  The  latter  wear,  be- 
sides, a  covering  for  the  head,  with  large  knots  of 
different  colours,  which  may  be  considered  as  n 
sign  of  nobility,  and  upon  which  the  ladies  of  ran' 
pride  themselves  so  much,  that  they  could  find  it  Im 
their  hearts  to  tear  it  from  the  head  of  th  ,tle- 
bian  woman,  bold  enough  to  wear  it.  Tht  largt 
cloaks  cover  sometimes  very  ordinary  and  mean 
dresses.  The  female  garb  consists,  besides,  ot 
frowns  and  jackets,  with  long  sleeves,  and  (for  the 
street)  large  hoods,  which  cover  not  only  the 
head,  but  almost  the  whole  face,  and  which,  in  tlu 
winter,  are  stuffed  with  down. 

At  2  o'clock,  we  sat  down  to  dine  at  lady  Carlo- 
foil's. 


f)    / 


*■•;.* 


¥% 


im^ 


<  t 


117 


nding  inc 
Canadians 
of  s<arlei 
f  thi5  same 
road  with- 
wear,  be- 
e  knots  of 
ered  as  n 
les  of  ran' 
d  find  it  i' 
:f  til     ,.le- 
Tlu  large 
and  mean 
)esidcs,  of 
[id  (for  tlie 
only   the 
ich,  in  tlu 

ady  Carle- 


.  •  ,  •  LETTLK  XXV. 

Extract  of  a  letter  of  iitueral  Ritdesel  to  his  mfi. 
dated  St.  John^  June.  13M,  1777,  which  did  not 
reach  her,  in  consequence  of  her  departure  from 
Qiiebec,  for  the  purpose  of  meeting  him. 

I  welcome  you,  my  dear  love,  on  your  arrival 
in  Canada.  I  was  dining  with  the  other  generals, 
at  general  Phillips',  when  the  express  arrived 
with  the  delightful  tidings,  that  the  convoy  from 
Portsmouth  was  in  sight,  near  the  isle  de  Bee, 
and  that  intelligence  had  been  received  that  you 
were  on  board  of  one  of  the  vessels,  with  our 
three  children,  and  that  you  were  all  well.  You 
must  have  reached  Quebec,  on  the  same  evening 
that  that  letter  was  written.  The  whole  company 
complimented  me  most  heartily,  and  we  drank 
your  happy  arrival.  My  joy  is  increased  by  the 
share  which  every  body  seems  to  take  in  it.  I 
only  wished  that  you  had  arrived  a  week  sooner, 
inasmuch  as  I  could  then  have  enjoyed  the  plea- 
sure of  seeing  you  immediately,  for  I  intended  to 
return  to  Quebec,  previous  to  our  crossing  the 
St.  Lawrence ;  but  now  it  is  too  late.  We  must 
have  patience  :  our  separation,  my  dear  wife,  will 
not  be  long,  and  only  until  things  can  be  dis- 


Ml^ 


■  ^^-v  r    ,*^.*  ' 


.^. 


■.i^a^lJj  ?!.:?"::"■ 


118 


:/   ^¥ 


posed  in  such  mannei',  that  you  may  be  amongst 
us  with  safety,  tranquillity,  and  comfort.  As  our  cor- 
respondence will  now  bfe  more  regular,  I  beg  you 
to  keep,  for  my  sake,  a  sort  of  diary  of  all  that 
may  happen  to  you  and  our  dear  little  ones ;  and 
in  the  hope  of  imparting  to  you  the  same  gratifi- 
cation I  promise  myself  from  the  fulfilment  of  my 
request,  I  will  also  give  you  an  account  of  all 
that  occurs  to  me. 

June  5th. — At  8  o'clock  in  the  morning,  I  left 
Three-Rivers,*  dined  at  Riviere  de  Loup  at  the 
rectory,  and  slept  at  Massinonge,  where  I  arrived 
very  much  fatigued. 

June  6th. — We  went  to  Berthieux,  where  we 
dined.  In  the  afternoon,  I  crossed  the  Saint  Law- 
rence, in  a  birch  canoe,  and  passed  the  night  in 
Sorel,  at  the  clergyman's  house. 

Jime  7th. — I  set  out  at  6  o'clock,  dined  at  St. 
Denis,  with  lieutenant-colonel  Specht  of  our 
troops,  and  reached  Chambly  in  the  evening. 

June  8th. — The  two  battalions  Berner  and 
Breyman  marched  towards  St.  John,  and  two 
others  came  in  their  stead.  My  baggage  could 
not  be  carried  so  quickly,  in  consequence  of  which 


*  Three  Rivers  was  the  wiiiter-cantonraent  Tof  the  German 
troops  under  general  Riedesel's  comuiand,  which  extended  ovci 
tlie  whole  district  lyinj  between  Quebec  and  Montreal, 


»Kk'r-.-j.-^,,  ■^V-..  ■7^v-^'■'';'7'?Ep-'^^r■i,- 


119 

it  looked  rather  dismal  in  my  quarters,  for  I  had 
nothing  to  eat  or  drink.  But  my  servants  reached 
me  at  length  in  the  evening.  The  passage  of  the 
St.  Lawrence  gave  me  a  good  deal  of  trouble,  but 
all  ended  well. 

June  lOth. — General  Phillips  dined  with  me ; 
and  on  the  11th,  general  Burgoyne  took  his  break- 
fast with  me.  In  the  afternoon,  I  left  Chambly  for 
St.  John,  and  stopped,  on  my  way,  to  dine  witlf 
colonel  Mackenzie,  at  St.  Theresa. 

Junel2th. — I  dined  in  company  with  sir  Guy 
Carleton  and  general  Burgoyne,  at  general  Phil- 
lips', and  had  the  happiness  to  hear  of  your  arri- 
val. I  hope  to  receive  now  from  yourself  a  detailed 
account  of  your  voyage.  I  shall  depart  to-day, 
or,  at  latest,  to-morrow,  for  Crown  Point,  arid  will 
write  to  you  whenever  I  have  a  moment  of  lei- 
sure. 

Adieu;  my  love  to  our  dear  children.  I  hope 
that  you  are  provided  with  money ;  if  not,  they 
will  supply  you  at  Quebec  with  as  much  as  you 
have  occasion  for  ;  and  our  pay-master  Godecke, 
whom  you  will  find  at  Three-Rivers,  will  likewise 
make  you  all  the  necessary  advances.  Again, 
adieu,  my  dear  wife.  May  God  continue  to  pro- 
tect us.— Write  to  me  soon,  and  be  assured  that 
f  shall  ever  be  yours. 


r^' 


.-h. 


.v» 


1 


ik 


%f- 


120 


% 


oN^;.' 


Continuation  of  Mad.  de  RiedeseVs  Diary,  from 
Quebec,  until  her  meeting  with  her  husband, — dur- 
ing the  time  of  their  second  separation — -and  till  their 
re-union  at  Fort  Edward. 


.«.; 

^ 


•  Captain  Pownell,  who,  as  I  already  have  said, 
had  conveyed  my  husband  from  England  to  Cana- 
da, volunteered  to  carry  me  by  water  to  Point 
Tremble,  and  a  Mrs.  Johnson  offered  to  accom- 
pany me.  In  the  evening  of  the  Tlth  of  June, 
(the  same  day  that  I  landed,)  we  departed  from 
Quebec  in  a  boat  of  one  of  the  ships  of  war,  and 
reached,  towards  midnight,  a  place  seven  miles 
from  Quebec.  The  moon  shone  bright,  and  we 
Jiad  delightful  music.  After  having  put  my 
children  to-bed,  I  sat  down  to  driuk  tea  with  my 
fellow-travellers.         '^  ^€w 

"  On  the  12th,  at  half  past  three  in  the  morning, 
we  set  out  in  three  chaises  of  the  country,  or  ca- 
lashes, as  the  Canadians  call  them,  which  are  very 
small,  and  not  at  all  easy,  but  convenient  for  u 
speedy  journey.  I  could  not  bear  to  leave  any  of 
my  children  witli  my  maid-servants,  and  our  velii- 
cles  being  open  and  very  narrow,  I  fastened  my 
second  daughter  in  the  corner  of  my  calash,  for 


fX 


* 


■"1  ■ 


■T^,.- 


"sf; 


9f    ^'v'k+A   . 


:-^^'ii 


1:'A 


4' 


i  » 


.f 


*-.i...i*' 
^0-- 


121 


% 


fear  that  she  might  fall,  and  took  the  youngest  on 
my  knees,  while  the  eldest,  Gustava,  sat  at  my 
feet,  on  my  casket.  I  had  no  time  to  lose,  if  I 
wished  to  join  my  husband,  who  was  marching 
with  the  army,  and  I  promised,  therefore,  to  re- 
ward the  drivers,  if  they  carried  me  speedily,  and 
by  these  means,  we  travelled  very  fast.  The  Ca- 
nadians talk  continually  to  their  horses,  and  give 
them  all  sorts  of  names.  Thus  they  cried,  while 
whipping  their  horses,  "Allons,  mon  prince;'* 
"  Pour  mon  general :" — but  oftener,  "  Fi  done, 
madame."  I  thought  they  meant  me,  and  I  said, 
•' Plait-in  "—"Oh,"  replied  the  driver,  "I  only 
meant  that  little  rogue,  my  horse  j"  ("  Ce  n'est  que 
mon  cheval,  la  petite  coquine.")  Whenever  we 
met  any  peasants,  they  made  me  their  obeisances, 
crying,  "  the  wife  of  our  good  general,"  and  car- 
ried me  almost  on  their  shoulders.  It  gave  me 
great  joy  to  perceive  that  my  husband  had  made 
himself  so  acceptable,  and  to  h^ar  them  say, 
"  How  pleased  he  will  be  !" — "  How  often  he  has 
mentioned  you  !" — "  Oh,  how  much  he  loves 
you!" — In  the  afternoon  we  reached  Berthieux, 
where  I  was  told  that  I  could  have  no  vehicle,  but 
must  take  a  bark  canoe.  I  made  all  possible  ap- 
plication for  a  chaise,  oifered  to  pay  as  much  as  they 
should  ask,  for  the  weather  was  very  bad,  and  I 
had  to  pass  the  three  rivers  which  cross  each 

11 


K^-i 


t  ■ 
■If 


-i#i 


•*»\*t 


^'  ;* 


it''- 


:<■  ?' 


•'  '  "1  iiiyifwiiM 


^  ■ 


.0 


'*iF 


h:^ 


M 


■,4 


4 


:* 


.*s* 


**w 


;# 


^' 


^•Vn. 


♦  Other,  and  run  towards  the  town  of  Three-Rivers.* 
'^^^  But  all  was  unavailing,  for  the  passage  across  the 
rivers  is  reckoned  for  a  post-relay,  and  as  I  was  a 
foreigner,  I  was,  of  course,  liable  to  be  imposed 
upon,  as  strangers  are  every  where.  I  took  a 
boat,  and  seated  in  one  corner  of  it,  I  held  my 
children  on  ray  knees,  while  my  three  attendants 
sat  opposite  to  me.  It  was  necessary  to  trim  the 
boat,  of  which,  however,  I  was  only  informed, 
when  we  were  overtaken  by  a  storm,  which  fright- 
ened my  second  daughter  so  much,  that  she 
screamed  and  started  from  her  seat ;  whereupon 
our  boatman  told  me,  that  we  ran  a  great  risk 
of  being  overturned  by  the  least  imprudent  mo- 
tion. I  was,  therefore,  obliged  to  hold  the  child 
close  by  me,  in  spite  of  her  cries  :  and  thus  wc 
reached^  at  last,  the  same  evening,  Three-Rivers, 
where  our  officers  were  all  agreeably  surprised  at 
our  safe  arrival,  which  first  made  us  aware  of  the 
danger  to  which  we  had  been  exposed.  Two 
gentlemen,  engaged  in  an  angling  party,  were 
once  overtaken  by  a  storm,  which  upset  their  ca- 
noe, and  both  were  drowned.  I  thanked  God  when 
I  found  myself  safe  on  land,  though  I  often  after- 
wards regretted  having  been  told  the  danger  I  was 


«*■. 


^v! 


*  They  join  tliere,  and  fall  into  the  St.  X^awrence. 


,.J!fi, 


■(I- 


:m< 


-t^-Ai^gjff^'^^' 


.a 


¥i 


%■ 


«SA 


in,  upon  that  occasion,  for  I  was  in  great  dread, 
whenever  I  was  obliged  to  cross  a  small  river, 
even  in  the  finest  weather. 

The  grand-vicar  was  prompt  in  paying  me  a  vi- 
sit. He  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  my  husband, 
who  had  passed  the  whole  preceding  winter  at 
Three-Rivers.  The  good  clergyman  increased 
my  impatience  to  join  Mr.  de  Riedesel,  by  all  that 
he  reported  he  had  said  of  his  tender  love  for  me 
and  my  children,  and  the  anxiety  he  felt  during 
our  voyage.  He  informed  me  that  my  husband 
had  been  ill,  which  he  ascribed  to  his  great  regret 
at  being  obliged  to  depart  without  seeing  us, 
chiefly  as  he  had .  often  been  put  in  great  alarm, 
on  our  account,  by  unfounded  reports.  Thus  he 
was  once  told,  that  a  lady,  who  had  embarked 
with  three  children,  had  perished: — and  on  an- 
other occasion,  that  I  had  sailed  from  England,  and 
soon  become  so  terrified  at  my  undertaking,  that 
the  captain  was  obliged  to  put  me  ashore  again. 
All  this  strengthened  my  determination  of  joining 
my  husband  with  all  possible  speed,  and  I  de- 
spatched an  express  to  inform  him  that  I  should 
be  with  him  within  a  very  short  time.  The  wea- 
ther continuing  to  be  very  bad,  the  grand-vicar 
kindly  offered  to  lend  me  a  close  chaise,  in  which 
I  set  forward  on  my  journey,  the  next  morning,  at  6 
o'clock.    Our  driver  drove  so  fast,  that  I  could 


% 


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124 


\  ^'  ■ 


^'' 


^ 


hftrdly  breathe,  and  the  jolting  of  the  vehicle, 
added  to  my  being  obliged  to  hold  my  children, 
made  me  feel  as  if  all  my  joints  had  been  dislo- 
cated, so  that  the  first  thing  I  did,  whenever  we 
made  a  halt,  was  to  stretch  out  my  arms,  and  to 
walk  up  and  down  awhile,  to  restore  the  circula- 
tion of  my  blood.  Two  roads  lay  before  me  to 
go  to  Chambly,  where  I  was  told  I  might  yet  find 
my  husband.  I  chose  that  of  Montreal,  where  I 
arrived  the  13th,  in  the  evening,  and  passed  the 
night,  and  from  whence  I  departed  again  early 
tiie  next  morning.  Upon  reaching  Chambly,  I 
saw  several  of  our  oflicers,  and  my  coachman, 
whom  my  husband  had  left  here.  I  ran  towards 
the  latter  to  inquire  after  Mr.  de  Riedesel.  "  He 
is  on  his  way  to  meet  you,"  replied  he,  "  between 
here  and  Berthieux;  (fifteen  miles  from  Chambly.) 
I  was  not  a  little  chagrined  at  my  ill-luck.  How- 
ever, general  Carleton,  who  was  one  of  the  offi- 
cers present,  approached,  and  assured  me  that  my 
husband  would  certainly  be  back,  at  the  latest,  on 
the  following  day.  He  then  took  leave  of  me  and 
»  returned  to  Quebec,  after  having  surrendered  to 
*  general  Burgoyne  the  command  of  the  army. 
One  of  my  husband's  aids-de-camp  remained  with 
me,  and  the  time,  until  the  next  day,  seemed  to 
.  .me  uncommonly  long.  Meanwhile  my  children, 
f  and  the  honest  Rockel,  watched  on  the  road,  in 


'**-. 


"^'• 


»»  * 


■rf  i 


'1^ '    ./ '  ■*«- 


;^i' 


.St.  - 


.**       !!^ 


•* 


*u 


* 


125 


'.i^p 


the  hope  that  Mr.  de  Riedesel  might  yet  arrive 
that  evening  :  and,  indeed,  a  chaise  was  at  length 
seen  advancing  up  the  road,  and  a  Canadian  in  it. 
I  saw  the  vehicle  stop,  the  traveller  alight,  ran  to- 
wards my  children,  and  fold  them  in  his  arms.  It 
was  my  husband !  not  having  yet  got  rid  of  his 
fever,  he  wore  (though  it  was  summer)  a  blanket 
coat  or  gown  with  ribands,  and  the  usual  blue  and 
red  fringes,  in  the  Canadian  fashion.  With  my 
baby  in  my  arms,  I  ran  as  quick  as  I  could  to  join 
the  beloved  groupe.  My  joy  was  inexpressible, 
though  I  beheld  with  painful  feelings  the  sickly 
and  wearied  looks  of  my  poor  husband.  I  found 
my  two  daughters  bathed  in  tears  ;  the  eldest  from 
joy  to  see  her  father  again,  and  the  second,  be- 
cause he  wore  a  dress  so  different  from  that  with 
which  he  was  represented  in  the  portrait  she  was 
wont  to  see,  and  from  which  she  had  conceived  that 
he  was  as  elegant  as  handsome.  "  No,  no !  this 
is  an  ugly  papa,"  cried  she  in  English ,  "my  papa 
is  pretty  :"  and  she  would  not  go  to  him.  But  as 
soon  as  he  had  thrown  oif  his  Canadian  coat,  she 
jumped  upon  his  neck. 

My  husband  had  stopped  to  dine  with  co- 
lonel Anstruther,  and  was  accidentally  inform- 
ed that  a  female  had  arrived  at  that  place 
from  Berthieux.  She  was.  sent  for,  and  aske4 
what  was  the  news  at  Berthieux.     "Nothing,'* 

11*  ,  . 


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■zp^^ 


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126 


answered  she,  "  except  that  a  German  lady  has 
arrived  with  her  children,  who  is  said  to  be  the 
wife  of   the   German    general." — "  How   many 
children  did  you  say?"  inquired  my  husband. — 
"Three,"  said  the  woman.     Mr.  de  Riedesel  did 
not  want  to  know  more ;  and  he  thus  accident- 
ally learned  that  his  children  were  alive  and  had 
arrived,  for  he  had  not  received  any  intelligence 
of  us  during  the  whole  winter,  and  our  vessels 
were  the  first  by  which  news  from  Europe  could 
be  received.     We  spent  two  liappy  days  together. 
I  wished  extremely  to  follow  my  husband,  but  he 
would  not  consent  to  it,  and  I  was  obliged  to  re- 
turn to  Three-Rivers,  with  so  much  the  more  re- 
gret, as  the  army  was  marching  in  search  of  the 
enemy,  and  I  went  alone  with  my  children  to  live 
in  the  midst  of  a  people  entirely  strange  to  me. 
I  travelled,  therefore,  in  a  depressed  situation  of 
mind.     How  different  were  now  my  feelings  from 
those  which  accompanied  me  on  my  journey  hi- 
ther !     I  was  now  in  no  hurry,  and  the  aching  of 
my  heart  increased  with  every  mile  we  advanced. 
On  passing  a  wood,  I  was  suddenly  roused  from 
my  reveries,  by  something  that  seemed  like  a  cloud 
before  our  carriage,  until  I  discovered  that  it  was 
a  flight  of  wild  pigeons,  of  which  there  are  such 
an  abundance  in  Canada,  that  they  are  for  many 
weeks  the  exclusive  food  of  the  inhabitants,  who 


p?*f 


:«,  ,.   *■  ■»■'— 


-  *-''---^,.J..^--- 


*• 


♦4f 


.#     '• 


127 


*        -1? 


•    'jt    *'*^ 


■t>'fr  •!. 


i)hoot  them  with  fowling-pieces,  loaded  with  the 
smallest  shot.     Upon  perceiving  a  flock,  the  Ca- 
nadian hunter  shouts,  which  makes  the  pigeons 
start  all  at  once,  so  that  by  shooting  at  random^ 
sometimes  two  or  three  hundred  are  wounded,  and 
afterwards  knocked  down  with  sticks.    The  hun- 
ters sell  a  part,  and  keep  the  remainder  for  their 
own  use ;  and  these  birds  furnish  soups  and  fricas- 
sees, which  are  usually  dressed  with  a  cream 
sauce   and  small  onions,  (chives.)     During  the 
shooting   season,  pigeons   are  on  every  table. — 
The  peasants  are  very  hospitable,  and  generally 
live  in  good  houses,  with  spacious  rooms,  and  cur- 
tained beds.     Each  house  has  a  large  entrance- 
hall,  and  three  or  four  chambers.     On  the  mar- 
riage of  a  daughter,  the  Canadian  usually  asks 
his  son-in-law  -whether  •  he  wishes  to  live  in  his 
company;  and  if  the  offer  is  accepted,  he  causes 
a  house  and  a  stable  to  be  built  close  by  his  own, 
and  the  surrounding  land  is  put  into  cultivation, 
by  which  means  agriculture  flourishes  apace  with 
population.     All  the  houses  are  whitened  on  the 
outside,   and  present  a  most  pleasing  prospect 
from  the  St.  Lawrence,  through  the  embellishing 
aid  of  distance.     Each  dwelling  has  a  little  or- 
chard :  in  the  evening,  the  returning  herds  add  a 
new  and  picturesque  feature  to  the  landscape. 
Hog^  and  eow|  are,  throughout  this  country,  dri- 


K 


Vv 


*■> 


V     ! 


■f 


m 


''  ''h. 


•    *l 


*-*    .-^ 


\,:i' 


^: 


'*^ 


128        .  :^ 

ven  into  the  wood,  and  return  homeward  at  a  cer- 
tain hour,  when  the  latter  are  milked,  and  care  is 
then  taken  to  provide  them  with  some  food,  for 
*they  would  otherwise  not  regress  to  the  stables. 
It  often  happens  that  sows  remain  absent  for 
iome  time,  and  at  once  return  witJi  a  new  lit- 
ter. They  would  soon  die  if  they  were  kept  shut 
up  in  sties,  as  in  Germany.  They  are  fine  ani- 
mals, and  seem  to  be  of  a  mixed  breed,  being 
partly  tame  and  parly  wild. 

I  reached  Three-Rivers  in  an  unecsy  and  anx- 
ious state  of  mind.  My  usual  con.(>any  in  that 
town,  consisted  of  the  grand- vicar  and  his  "soi-dis- 
ant"  cousin : — as  such,  at  all  events,  she  was  in- 
troduced to  me  by  my  husband;  she  was  cheer- 
ful, and  talked  agreeably.  The  grand-vicar  was 
not  inferior  to  her  in  either  respect,  and  moreover 
a  man  of  good  understanding.  I  was  afterwards 
informed,  that  all  the  gentlemen  of  his  profession 
had  in  their  company  pretty  cousins,  whom  they 
call  their  house-keepers. 

I  was  always  sure  of  company  in  the  convent  of  the 
Ursulines,  who  are  also  called  "charitable  sisters," 
and  justly,  for  they  give  almost  all  their  time  to  the 
sick  of  the  hospital,  annexed  to  their  establishment. 
Ofi  my  first  visit  to  the  nunnery,  and  while  I  pass- 
ed before  the  hall  of  the  sick,  a  man  threw  him- 
self at  my  feet,  crying,  "Save  me, Madam:  have 


/*,. 


*  f 


i:- 


■ifr.  ^.  :¥^^fe4 


..  -al:^  lfa;».?^flli.tir|-;Jih3>l 


l^ 


129 

me  killed,  that  I  may  return  to  Germany."  The 
man  was  mad :  I  gave  him  some  money,  and  made 
haste  to  get  out  of  his  reach. 

Many  of  the  nuns  were  very  amiable,  and  I 
spent  with  them  many  agreeable  days.  They  had 
a  great  regard  for  my  husband,  who  had  often  sent 
them  wine  and  roast  meat.  I  followed  his  exam- 
ple, and  from  my  sex,  had  it  in  my  power  to  be 
still  kinder  to  them,  for  I  often  ordered  my  dinner 
to  be  brought  to  the  convent,  and  ate  in  company 
with  the  nuns.  From  the  excitement  arising  from 
their  wish  to  keep  up  my  spirits,  from  our  free 
conversation,  and  perhaps  also,  the  wine  we  drank, 
the  good  sisters  grew  sometimes  so  merry,  that 
they  disguised  themselves,  danced  a  sort  of  Cos*, 
sack  dance,  or  dressed  me  in  their  garb.  A  young 
novice  had  conceived  a  particular  affection  for 
me,  and  thought  that  in  the  religious  dress  I  re- 
sembled so  much  to  a  picture  of  the  holy  virgin, 
that  tlie  best  I  could  do,  would  be  to  take  the  veil 
forever,  I  replied,  that  I  had  no  objection,  if 
they  would  make  my  husband  their  prior,  in  or- 
der that  he  might  live  in  our  company.  She  knew 
so  little  of  the  world,  that  she  imagined  this  could 
easily  be  done :  she  ran  away,  and  after  a  little 
while,  I  found  her  kneeling  before  a  crucifix,  pour- 
ing  out  thanks  to  God  for  my  conversion.  I  sent 
for  my  children ;  Gustava  wept  when  she  saw  me 


•i 


•* 


"— .  .._»ii»  <v 


*y" 


t_sitnJlmt>tt 


ftl^^^W   '^^^^H^^^t^  ■ 


■■->,  of-;i)>>iiiiiinr<ir<; 


<^;-'j-'^;,^^::.ZJ:jf^ 


"Tt^ 


jCfe 


-.^-SjfcjW^i 


f 


< 


r 


4 


■r    y,\ 

ft      ■» 

130 

in  my  mummery.  "Dear  mnma,"  she  cried,  "pray 
be  not  a  nun/*  In  order  to  triUKjuillize  them  both, 
I  was  obliged  to  throw  off  the  dresi). — There  was 
also  a  school  for  girls  in  the  convent,  where  they 
learned  all  sorts  of  work.  The  nuns  sang  beauti- 
fully, and  as  they  chanted  in  the  choir  behind  cur- 
tains, one  might  almost  fancy  it  to  be  the  sympho- 
ny of  cherubs. 

My  principal  domestic  cares  were  for  my  child- 
ren; and  I  sometimes  amused  myself  at  my  work- 
table,  or  with  reading.  The  company  of  the  offi- 
cers,  who  had  ho.vn  left  at  Three-Rivers,  was  not  very 
desirable :  and  the  paymaster-general  was  a  rude 
man,  whose  ungentlemanly  behaviour  often  dis- 
pleased me,  and  increased  my  uneasiness.  While 
I  daily  expected  captain  Arbuthnot  from  Montreal, 
whom  I  wished  to  pay  for  my  passage,  I  sent  to 
the  paymaster  a  draft,  which  my  husband  had  left 
with  me,  for  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  sterling; 
but  he  refused  to  pay  it.  T  aeked  him  whether 
my  husband  owed  him  any  thing.  He  replied, 
that  on  the  contrary,  some  money  was  yet  due  to 
him ;  but  as  he  was  daily  in  danger  of  being  killed, 
caution  required  him  not  to  make  me  any  advance. 
I  was  much  irritated  at  this  answer,  and  told  him 
that  his  behaviour  was  not  such  as  to  make  me 

• 

willing  to  address  myself  often  to  him ;  and  that 
even  in  case  I  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  my  hus*^ 


■k 


•-•X^ 


i  rf- 


131 


ried,  "pray 
!  them  both, 
-There  was 
where  they 
ang  beauti- 
behind  cur- 
he  sympho- 

)r  my  child- 
it  my  work- 
'  of  the  offi- 
vas  not  very 
was  a  rude 
'  often  dis- 
ess.  While 
m  Montreal, 
re,  I  sent  to 
ind  had  left 
ids  sterling; 
im  whether 

e  replied, 

yet  due  to 
eing  killed, 
ly  advance, 
told  him 

make  me 
and  that 

se  my  hus- 


band, I  should  he  entitled  to  a  quarter  of  his  year- 
ly salary,  which  exceeded  the  sum  1  asked  of  him. 
"Certainly,"  replied  he,  "but  how  would  it  then  be 
with  your  return  to  Europe'?"    "Heaven  will  take 
care  of  me,''  returned  I.     I  never  spoke  to  him 
more  about  the  money,  but  addressed  myself  to  a 
British  paymaster,  who  not  only  made  me  the  ad- 
vance, but  ottered  to  give  me  in  future  as  much  mo- 
ney as  I  should  want.     I  informed  my  husband  of 
what  had  happened,  and  he  became  very  angry  with 
the  paymaster;  wrote  him  a  severe  letter,  and  direct- 
ed him  to  give  me  as  much  money  as  I  should  ask. 
From  that  moment  he  grew  polite,  and  I  advanced 
so  rapidly  in  his  favour,  that  a  letter  from  his  wife 
was  found,  after  his  death,  among  his  papers,  in 
which  she  said,  "You  write  so  many  fine  things 
about  the  general's  wife,  that  I  cannot  help  feeling 
some  jealousy ."  Four  years  after  the  incident,  which 
I  have  mentioned,  I  took   pleasure  in  presenting 
him,  during  his  last  illness,  all  sorts  of  refresh- 
ments, and  he  sent  me  his  apologies  for  his  uncivil 
behaviour.     The  alarming  manner  in  which  this 
man  used  to  talk,  and  the  various  rumours  that 
were  daily  afloat,  depressed  me  extremely,  and  em- 
bittered my  life;  so  much  the  more,  as  I  was  often, 
for  many  days  without  letters  from  my  husband, 
although  he  wrote  to  me  daily,  and  those  I  re- 
rcived  were  generally  of  a  distant  date.     Certainly 


'  '♦*v»-. 


M»  > 


•«■    ' 


i- 


f 


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i  ^ 


132 


9' 


we  suffer  more,  while  absent  from  those  we  love, 
and  whom  we  know  to  be  in  danger,  than  when 
we  are  near  to  them.     I  begged  and  besought  my 
husband  to  permit  me  to  join  him ;  I  assured  him 
that  I  had  sufficient  health  and  courage  for  such  an 
undertaking,  and  that  he  should  not  hear  any  com- 
plaint from  me,  whatever  might  happen,  and  that 
I  flattered  myself  that  in  many  cases  I  should 
prove  a  useful  companion.     He  answered  me  that 
he  would  not  make  any  difficulty,  wheneveaF  it 
should  be  possible  for  women  to  follow  the  army ; 
shortly  afterwards  he  informed  me  that  my  wish 
would  soon  be  fulfilled ;   and  while  I,  in  conse- 
quence of  these  tidings,  kept  myself  ready  to  set  out 
on  my  journey,  and  waited  for  that  moment  with 
impatience,  captain  Willoe  arrived  at  last  with  the 
order  to  accompany  me.     I  need  not  say  that  he 
was  welcome.  ''#     ^         •, 

We  departed  together,  two  days  after  his  arrival. 
A  boat  which  belonged  to  my  husband,  and  an- 
»  other  small  one,  carried  us  to  Three-Rivers.  The 
detachment  of  soldiers  which  was  on  board  the 
pinnace,  was  under  the  command  of  an  honest 
sergeant  called  Biirich,  who  did  all  he  could 
i^}<io  oblige  me,  and  to  whom  I  entrusted  our  bag- 
gage. Night  came  on,  and  we  were  obliged  to 
anchor  at  an  island.  The  other  boat,  which  car- 
ried more  weight,  and  was  not  so  well  manned  as 


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we  love, 
an  when 
)ught  my 
ured  him 
r  such  an 
any  com- 
and  that 
I  should 
i  me  that 
eneveiT  it 
he  army ; 
t  my  wish 
in  conse- 
to  set  out 
nent  with 
t  with  the 
ly  that  he 

lis  arrival. 

and  an- 
3rs.  The 
3oard  the 
m  honest 
could 

our  bag- 
bliged  to 
lich  car- 

nned  as 


133 

ours,  remained  behind :  we  were  therefore  without 
beds,  and  what  was  the  worst,  we  had  nothing  to 
eat,  for  we  had  taken  victuals  but  for  a  single  day, 
and  we  found  in  our  island  nothing  but  the  four 
naked  walls  of  an  abandoned  and  half  finished 
house,  full  of  bramb'es  :  over  these,  however,  we 
spread  our  cloaks,  and  using  the  cushions  of  the 
boats  as  pillows,  we  had  a  tolerable  night's  rest. 

I  could  not  persuade  captain  Willoe  to  follow 
us  into  the  shed ;  nor  could  I  conceive  what  could 
be  the  cause  of  the  uneasiness  he  seemed  to  feel. 
Meanwhile,  a  soldier  put  a  pot  to  the  fire.  I  asked 
him  what  it  contained.  "  Some  potatoes,"  quoth  he, 
"  which  I  have  brought  with  me."  I  threw  a  long- 
ing glance  at  them ;  but  as  they  were  few,  it  would 
have  been  cruel  to  deprive  him  of  them,  especial- 
ly as  he  seemed  quite  happy  to  possess  them.  At 
last,  my  desire  to  have  sonale  for  my  children,  over- 
came my  diffidence ;  and  he  gave  me  half  of  his 
little  provision,  (about  twelve  potatoes,)  and  took, 
at  the  same  time,  from  his  pocket,  two  or  three 
ends  of  candles,  which  I  accepted  with  great  plea- 
sure, for  my  children  were  afraid  to  remain  in  the 
dark.  A  dollar  which  I  gave  him,  made  him  as 
happy,  as  his  liberality  had  made  me.  I  observed 
that  captain  Willoe  had  ordered  a  large  fire  to  be 
lighted  around  our  retreat,  and  placed  a  watch  for 
the  whole  night,  and  I  was  often  waked  by  a  noise. 

12 


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*--i. 


When,  the  nexl  morning  at  our  Breakfast^  which 
was  served  up  on  a  large  stone,  I  asked  the  cap- 
tain, who  had  slept  in  the  boat,  what  had  caused 
the  noise,  he  confessed  that  we  had  been  in  great 
danger,  because  the  place  where  we  were  was  the 
Rattlesnake  Island,  (Isle  a  Sonnettes,)  a  name 
which  had  been  given  to  that  spot  on  account  of 
the  great  number  of  that  kind  of  serpents  which 
it  contained; — that  he  had  not  been  aware  of  it, 
before  we  landed,  and  had  felt  uneasy  when  he 
heard  it,  but  that  it  was  too  late  in  the  night 
to  take  boat  again ; — that  the  only  remedy  he 
could  devise,  was  to  prevent  the  rattlesnakes  by 
fire  and  by  noise,  from  approaching  us ; — and  that 
he  had  not  shut  his  eyes  during  the  whole  night.  I 
was  much  alarmed,  and  observed  to  the  captain, 
that  we  had  been  exposed  to  great  danger,  as  we 
had  slept  on  bushes,  wliere  the  snakes  are  apt  to 
conceal  themselves.  He  told  me  that  if  he  had 
known  it,  he  would  have  taken  care  that  the  house 
was  cleared  of  all  such  brambles,  or  that  he  would 
have  proposed  to  us  rather  to  sleep  in  the  boat. 
He  knew  nothing  of  the  spot,  until  the  second 
transport  reached  us,  which  was  much  later  than 
our  arrival.  We  saw  many  traces  of  those  venom- 
ous creatures;  skins  and  slime:  and  we  were  there- 
fore not  long  at  our  breakfast.  We  afterwards 
crossed  lake  Champlain,  and  reached  at  noon  Fort 


■v*^ 

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135 


John,  the  commander  of  which  received  us  with 
much  kindness  and  attention.      We  were  every 
where  welcomed  in  a  most  flattering  manner,  for 
my  husband  had  won  the  good  will  both  of  the 
English  and  the  natives.     We  embarked  again  to 
meet  with  a  cutter,  on  board  of  which  we  reached 
WolPs  island,  and  passed  the  night  in  our  vessel, 
notwithstanding  a  thunder  storm,  which  presented 
a  very  awful  scene,  as  we  were  encircled  with 
mountains  and  large  trees.     On  the  following  day, 
we  passed  Ticonderoga,  and  arrived  towards  noon 
at  Fort  George,  where  we  dined  with  colonel  An- 
struther,  the  kind  and  gallant  commander  of  the 
62d  regiment.     In  the  afternoon  we  set  forward 
on  our -journey  in  a  chaise,  and  reached  on  the 
same  day  (14th  August)  Fort  Edward.     My  hus- 
band had  left  this  place,  on  the  preceding  day, 
with  the  army,  but  as  soOn  as  he  received  intelli- 
gence of  our  arrival,  he  came  back  (on  the  15th,) 
and  remained  with  us  till  the  16th,  on  which,  day 
he  was  obliged  to  rejoin  his  troops.     But  in  con- 
sequence of  the  unfortunate  engagement  which 
shortly  afterwards  took  place  at  Bennington,  I  had 
the  pleasure  to  see  him  again  on  the  18th,  from 
which  day  we  passed  three  weeks  in  delightful 
tranquillity.     A  few  days  after  my  arrival,  news 
was  received  that  we  were  cut  off  from  Canada. 
Had  I  not,  therefore,  availed  myself  of  a  fortunate 


^y 


^ 


'»«>. 


■\M 


■•■fe 


'^ 


k 


.*►*. 


■**-'*su: 


■Hf^^f^ 


1^ 


k 


"■^ 


^•- 


y^ 


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■*■  '-^ 


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r 


i# 


^ 


•  IT-     ■ 


136 


opportunity,  I  should  have  remained  three  years 
in  that  country,  separated  from  my  husband ;  and 
that  opportunity  was  occasioned  by  lady  Harriet 
Ackland's  arrival  at  the  army,  upon  which  general 
Burgoyne  observed  to  my  husband,  that  he  ought 
also  to  send  for  his  wife,  and  he  immediately  des- 
patched captain  Willoe.  We  passed  very  hap- 
'pily  the  three  weeks  together.  The  country  around 
us  was  beautiful,  and  we  were  in  the  midst  of  the 
encampments  of  the  British  and  German  troops. 
We  had  for  our  lodgings  a  dwelling  called  the 
Red  House.  It  consisted  of  one  room  for  my  bus- 
band,  myself  and  our  children,  a  small  study  for 
my  husband,  and  an  entrance  hall,  in  which  my 
female  servants  slept.  When  the  weather  was 
fine,  we.  dined  under  the  trees,  and.  if  not,  in  a 
barn,  where  planks  were  laid  upon  some  casks,  to 
serve  as  a  table.  Here'I  tasted,  for  the  first  time, 
bearV  flesh,  and  found  it  delightful.  We  often 
were  in  want  of  every  thing,  and  I  was  neverthe- 
less very  happy  and  content,  for  I  was  with  my 
children,  and  was  sure  of  the  attachment  of  those 
who  surrounded  me.  There  were,  if  I  remember 
right,  four  or  five  aids-de-camp.  While  the 
gentlemen  played  cards,  I  took  care  that  my  child- 
ren retired  to  rest. 


9L 


*'* 


■'     * 


I  ' 


*    •" >"»»^'»'»ritiiii„i><iii'«.iirifiii|    .'.Jigl'i.,  I    >",    i-m 


mfm 


n 


Be  years 
nd;  and 
r  Harriet 
I  general 
he  ought 
Ltely  des- 
ery  hap- 
ry  around 
Ist  of  the 
in  troops, 
tailed  the 
.r  my  hus- 
study  for 
which  my 
ither  was 
not,  in  a 
!  casks,  to 
first  time, 
We  often 
neverthe- 
with  my 
t  of  those 
emember 
hile    the 
my  child- 


> 


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Abstract  from  a  Military  Memoir,  concerning  the 
Campaign  of  m 7,*  ;^   , 

From  the  beginning  of  1777,  general  Riedesel 
was  never  permitted  to  take  a  part  in  the  delibe- 
rations held  by  the  British  generals  in  their  coun- 
sels of  war,  in  regard  to  the  military  operations, 
nor  was  he  ever  made  acquainted  with  the  instruc- 
tions which  general  Burgoyne  had  received  from 
his  government,  on  that  subject.  General  Riede- 
sel desired,  from  an  early  period,  to  obtain  the 
command  of  the  vanguard  of  the  army,  or,  at  least, 
as  far  as  circumstances  would  allow,  of  a  separate 
eorps;  and  this  was,  from  time  to  time,  granted  to 
him.  The  general  endeavoured,  by  all  means,  to 
execute  general  Burgoyne's  orders  with  the  utmost 
exactness,  to  maintain  discipline  among  the  troops 
entrusted  to  him ;  to  promote  a  good  understand- 
ing between  the  British  and  German  troops;  and 
to  secure  to  the  latter  all  that  had  been  promised 
them  by  the  treaty  of  subsidy,  and  apcQrdi^iiLio 


^ 


'*V 


*  Written  by  general  Riedesel. 
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138 


<;• 


•.V. 


«-» 


■*  iff- 


rank,  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  privileges  which 
were  granted  to  the  national  troops  of  England. 

Although  bickerings  arose  occasionally  among 
the  soldiery,  in  consequence  of  the  difference  of 
language,  and  the  misunderstanding  which  thence 
resulted,  they  had  never  any  serious  consequences, 
at  least,  when  general  Riedesel  was  with  his.  re- 
giments.* 


'I',- 


* 


*  . 


*:- 


•^ 


,'<^tS 


% 


♦  We  copy  the  following  lines  from  general  Burgoyne's  "  State 
y  '  of   the    expedition   from  Canada,  as  laid  before  the  House  of 
Commons,"  &c.  &c.     London,  1780, 2d  edition,  page  132. 

"  The  mode  of  war  in  which  they  (the  German  troops)  were 
engaged,  was  entirely  new  to  them ;  temptations  to  desert  were 
ia  themselves  great,  and  had  been  enhanced  and  circulated  among 
them  by  emissaries  of  the  enemy  with  much  art  and  industry. 
Jealousy  of  predilection  in  the  allotment  of  posts  and  separate 
commands,  ever  subsists  among  troops  of  different  states ;  and  a 
'  solid  preference  of  judgment  in  the  commander-in-chief,  often  ap- 
pears a  narrow  national  partiality. 

'^  I  confess,  I  was  much  assisted  in  maintaining  cordiality  in  an 
army  thus  composed,  by  the  frank,  spirited,  and  honourable  cha- 
'  meter  I  had  to  deal  with,  in  major  general  Riedesel ; — a  character 
^which  was  very  early  impressed  upon  my  mind,  and  which  no 
^^trials  of  intricacy,  danger  and  distress,  has  since  effaced ;  but  ad- 
'   dress  was  still  requisite  to  second  his  zeal,  and  to  diffuse  it  through 
the  Ge  man  ranks,  and  I  studied  to  throw  them  into  situations  that 
might  give  them  confidence  in  themselves,  credit  with  their  prince  ^ 
and  alacrity  in  the  pursuit  of  an  enterpnse,  which,  when  its  diffi- 
culties were  considered,  in  fact  required  enthusiasm.'*      '*Si  . 


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139 


Under  such  auspices,  the  army  had  broken  up 
their  winter  quarters,  on  the  3d  of  June.  On 
the  6th  of  July,  the  Americans  evacuated  Ticon« 
deroga;  and  on  the  same  day,  general  Riedesel 
was  sent  off  with  three  German  battalions  to  sup- 
port brigadier  general  Eraser,  in  the  pursuit  of 
the  enemy,  who  were  retrograding  towards  Hu- 
berton.  While  on  the  7th,  he  was  within  an 
hour's  march  fro*^.  brigadier  Fraser,  the  latter, 
without  waiting  ior  the  junction  of  the  other 
forces,  had  engaged  himself  with  the  enemy.  A 
brisk  fire  was  kept  up,  and  things  were  in  a  criti- 
cal situation  until  general  Riedesel  arrived  with 
his  vanguard,  and  made  a  fresh  attack  on  the  nght 
wing  of  the  enemy,  which  produced  such  a  change, 
that  the  enemy  was  beaten,  and  experienced  a 
considerable  loss;  and  brigadier  general  Fraser, 
and  all  his  officers,  expressed  to  general  Ried- 
esel, in  the  liveliest  terms,  their  gratitude  for  his 

aid.  >*^    -.^m^^  ■^''  -^  ■  "^^-    ■ 

After  this  affair,  general  Burgoyne  rallied  the 
arr^y  near  Skeensborbugh.  On  the  12th,  gene« 
ral  Riedesel  was  detached  with  six  battalions,  tO 
post  himself  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Castletown, 
in  order  to  induce  the  enemy  to  make  a  demonstra- 
tion on  the  Connecticut  river.  Meanwhile,  gene- 
ral Burgoyne  caused  the  roads  to  be  repaired,  and 


V  - 

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-**' 


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■•■•% 


made  preparations  to  advance  by  Fort  Anne,  to- 
wards Fort  Edward.  While  he  was  on  his  march, 
general  Riedesel  received  orders  to  follow  the  En- 
glish in  that  direction,  and  rejoined  the  army,  on 
the  3d  of  August.  f     i^i. 

Here  general  Burgoyne  resolved  to  detach  a 
body  of  troops  under  lieutenant  colonel  Baum  to- 
wards Bennington,  in  order  to  seize  a  considerable 
magazine  of  stores,  disregarding  all  the  reasons 
which  general  Riedesel  had  earnestly  urged  against 
that  enterprize; — and  that  detachment  being 
thought  not  sufficiently  strong,  lieutenant  colonel 
Breymann  was  sent  to  its  support,  with  an  equal 
disregard  of  the  general's  objections.  The  affair 
near  Bennington.;  on  the  16th,  had  a  most  unfor- 
tunate end.  The  enemy  was  four  or  five  times 
,  stronger  than  the  English.  Lieutenant  colonel 
^  Breymann  had  been  prevented  by  the  march  he 
had  to  perform,  from  reaching  the  place  of  action 
sufficiently  early ;  and  thus  both  detachments,  one 
after  the  other,  were  defeated.  Both  the  men  and 
their  officers,  were  very  brave; — but  they  were  too 
distant  from  the  main  body  of  the  army,  to  keep 
up  communications  with  it,  or  avoid  the  fate  which 
they  met  with. 

.    This  unfortunate  event  paralized  at  once  our 
operations.    From  St.  George  we  could  receive 


¥ 


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»':  ■  .^ii'. 


.:••* 


141 


5  reasons 


.«   'V 


neither  boats  nor  provisions;  the  army  was  con- 
sequently prevented  from  advancing,  while  the 
enemy,  recovering  suddenly  from  their  depression, 
increased  their  numbers  daily. 

On  the  8th  of  August,  general  Riedesel  was  de- 
tached with  three  battalions  to  John's  Farm,  which 
lay  between  Fort  George  and  Fort  Edward,  to 
protect  the  communications  with  Fort  George, 
and  to  accelerate  the  departure  of  the  convoy  for 
the  army.  He  entrenched  himself  in  his  camp, 
with  a  firm  resolution  of  defending  himself  to  the 
last  extremity.  The  whole  army  was,  in  the  mean- 
time, stationed  at  Edward's  house  and  Fort  Miller; 
and  one  battalion  had  charge  of  protecting  the 
communications  with  Fort  Edward.  It  was  natural 
to  expect,  that  when  the  army  should  advance  to- 
wards Albany,  care  would  be  taken  to  construct 
some  works  on  the  intermediate  space,  along  the 
Hudson,  to  maintain  the  communications  with 
Fort  George;  but  general  Burgoyne,  apprehensive 
of  thereby  weakening  his  army,  followed  quite  a 
different  plan.  He  determined  to  march  towards 
the  enemy,  with  stores  for  forty  days,  and  a  propor- 
tionate train  of  artillery,  to  endeavour  to  beat  the 
enemy,  and  thus  by  force,  effect  a  communication 
with  the  army  which  was  said  to  be  advancing 
from  New-York,  and  to  abandon  entirely  the  com- 


'^ 


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"^ 


^•■«- 


''«.V 


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•  I  ,.  .-     >?V: 


142 


:\- 


inunications  with  Fort  George,  Ticonderoga  and 
Canada;  but  all  this  was  kept  secret.  '■ 

When  the  provisions  and  all  other  necessaries 
were  ready,  the  army  set  out  on  its  march,  on  the  ' 
11th  of  September.  On  the  13th,  it  had  com- 
pletely passed  the  Hudson,  and  on  the  next  day  it 
encamped  on  the  heights  of  Saratoga.  On  the 
1 6th  it  marched  to  those  of  Dovogat,  and  on  the 
17th  arrived  at  Sword's  house.  All  these  marches 
were  very  fatiguing,  for  it  was  necessary  to  repair 
the  roads  and  bridges,  and  to  make  reconnoissances 
continually.  Besides,  as  the  mountains  extend  at 
unequal  distances  from  the  banks  of  the  river,  in 
order  to  direct  the  march  of  the  columns,  so  as  to 
occupy  the  heights  and  road  close  to  the  river, 
they  were  always  separated  from  each  other  more 
than  half  an  hour's  march,  and  often  without  any 
possibility  of  effecting  their  junction. 

Meanwhile,  in  consequence  of  the  unfortunate 
action  at  Bennington,  and  the  successful  attempt 
of  the  American  general  Arnold  to  raise  the  siege 
of  Fort  Stanwix,  (which  had  just  been  commenced 
by  the  British  lieutenant  colonel  St.  Leger,)  the 
courage  of  the  enemy  was  roused  to  such  a  wonder- 
ful pitch,  that  the  militia  flocked  in  from  New- 
Hampshire,  and  the  other  parts  of  New-England, 
independently  of  three  brigades  of  the  armies  of 


.%. 


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ch,  on  the ' 
had  com- 
next  day  it 
I,  On  the 
and  on  the 
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143 


Washington  and  Putnam ;  and  general  Gates  wan 
sent  by  general  Washington  to  take  the  command 
of  the  army,  which,  though  it  consi8i«?d  of  but 
four  or  five  thousand  men  at  the  end  of  July,  at 
the  beginning  of  August  could  muster  from  four- 
teen to  twenty  thousand.     With  this  respectable 
force,  general  Gates  marched,  at  first,  to  Stillwa- 
ter, and  then  three  miles  on  this  side,  to  Behmus' 
heights,  where  his  right  wing  rested  on  the  Hud- 
son.    Before  the  front  of  the  army  was  a  marshy 
ravine,  and  behind  it  the  troops  were  covered  by 
an  Abattis.     The  left  wing  rested  upon  a  height 
where  there  was  a  school-house,  and  was  also  co- 
vered, on  the  declivity  of  the  hill,  by  a  breastwork 
of  logs.     The  ground  was  equally  steep  before 
and  behind  the  front,  and  the  American  army  was 
entrenciied  on  these  heights,  waiting  for  our  arri- 
val.    On  the  I9th  of  September,  about  11  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  our  troops  marched  in  three  co- 
lumns from  Sword's  house  ;  that  on  our  left,  con- 
sisted of  four  German  regiments  and  the  47th  of 
the  British,  which  covered  the  batteaux.     These 
troops,  with  all  the  artillery  and  baggage,  were 
under  the  command  of  general  Riedesel.     On  the 
heights  on  our  right,  at  an  interval  of  half  an  hour's 
march,  all  the  other  English   regiments  defiled 
under  the  immediate  orders  of  general  Burgoyne, 
and  the  third  column,  which  marched  on  the  ex- 


\ 


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144 


trcmc  right,  consisted  of  brigadier  general  Fra- 
ser's  and  lieutenant  colonel  Breymann's  corps,  and 
was  commanded  by  the  former  of  these  two  offi- 
cers. They  advanced  slowly,  because  they  were 
almost  incessantly  obliged  to  make  bridges,  to  fell 
trees  and  clear  the  road. 

About  1  o'clock,  a  brisk  cannonade  and  fire  of 
musketry  was  heard,  and  general  Riedesel  presumed 
that  general  Burgo.yne's  column  was  then  engaged 
with  the  enemy.  The  fire  again  commenced  to- 
wards 3  o'clock,  and  became  much  hotter.  Gene- 
ral Riedesel  finding  himself  without  any  intelli- 
gence from  general  Burgoyne,  despatched  captain 
Willoe  to  him.  This  oflicer  returned  in  about 
three  quarters  of  an  hour,  and  brought  orders 
to  general  Riedesel  to  take  the  best  measures 
to  preserve  the  artillery,  baggage  and  batteaux, 
and  to  repair  immediately  afterwards  to  general 
Burgoyne's  relief,  with  as  many  troops  as  he 
should  be  able  to  take  along,  and  to  attempt  an 
attack  on  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy. 

General  Riedesel  immediately  took  his  infanti\ 
legiuient,  and  two  companies  of  the  Rhetz  regi- 
ment, and  passed  through  the  wood,  in  the  direc- 
tion from  which  the  cannonade  was  heard.  On 
clearing  the  wood  near  Freeman's  Farm,  he  per- 
ceived both  armies  engaged,  and  found  himself 
i'ompletely  on  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy.   The 


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aral  Fta- 
}rp8,  and 
two  offi- 
hey  were 
es,  to  fell 

nd  fire  of 
presumed 
[I  engaged 
lenced  to- 
;r.  Gene- 
ny  inte  Hi- 
ed captain 
I  in  about 
ght  orders 
t  measures 
[  batteaux, 
to  general 
ops  as  he 
attempt  an 

lis  infant!} 
Ihetz  regi- 

the  direc- 
leard.    On 

.,  he  per- 
ind  himself 
lemy.  The 


145 

left  wing  of  the  English  was  just  preparing  to  re- 
treat, but  general  Riedesel  drew  up  hastily  his  se- 
ven companies,  and  attacked  the  enemy  briskly. 
As  soon  as  the  British  observed  that  movement, 
they  rallied,  and  in  a  little  while  the  enemy  was 
completely  beaten ;  and  but  for  the  approach  of 
night,  they  might  have  been  followed  into  their 
camp,  into  which  they  retired  in  great  disorder. 
The  troops  passed  the  night  on  the  field  of  action, 
and  general  Riedesel  returned  along  the  river  side, 
to  the  Jeft  wing  of  the  army.  On  the  20th,  our 
troops  occupied  the  position  of  Freeman's  Farm, 
down  to  the  end  of  the  hill  towards  the  river.  Re- 
doubts were  thrown  up  on  the  heights  which  over- 
looked the  valley,  a  bridge  was  thrown  over  the 
Hudson,  and  a  work  erected  on  the  other  side; 
and  the  whole  army  intrenched  itself  within  lines 
and  redoubts,  which,  in  the  most  convenient 
positions,  were  strengthened  with  batteries. 

Both  armies  rem  a  lied  in  that  position  till  the 
end  of  Septembtr.  Our  pickets  were  from  time 
to  time  attacked,  we  were  obliged  to  furnish 
strong  escorts  to  our  foraging  parties,  and  forage 
became  very  scarce.  We  often  sent  detachments  to 
reconnoitre  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy,  but  could 
never  acquire  a  due  knowledge  of  his  camp.  He  also 
did  not  neglect  to  send  occasionally  detachments 
in  the  direction  of  our  right  flank,  and  beyond  the 

13 


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146 

river  towards  Battenkill.    We  were  here  ako  in- 
formed that  be  had  made  an  attempt  on  Carillon, 
through   Skeensborough,  but    without    success: 
except  that  he  had  fallen  by  surprise  upon  four 
companies  of  the  53d  regiment,  near  the  saw- 
mill, and  made  them  prisoners.    We  were  so  short 
of  supplies,  that  the  daily  rations  were  reduced 
to  one  pound  of  fresh  beef  and  one  pound  of  bread, 
at  which,  nevertheless!,  the  soldiers  did  not  mur- 
mur.     Our  situation   becoming,  however,  daily 
more  critical,  and  the  enemy  being  too  strong,  as 
well  by  his  numbers  as  by  the  position  which  he 
occupied,  to  attack  him,  general  Burgoyne  sent, 
on   the  4th  of  October,  for  generals   Phillips, 
Riedesel,  and  Fraser,  to  consult  with  them  oh  the 
measures  which  were  to  be  taken.     He  proposed 
to  leave  the  boats  and  the  stores  for  a  few  days  to 
the  care  of  about  eight  hundred  men,  who  were 
to  remain  intrenched ;  and  turning  the  left  wing  of 
the  enemy,  to  attempt  an  attack.     But  as  we  did 
not  know  the  nature  of  the  country,  nor  the  posi- 
tion of  the  enemy's  left  wing,  three  or  four  days 
might  pass  before  we  could  begin  the  attack,  and 
it  would  be  dangerous  to  leave  our  stores  for  so 
long  a  time  under  a  feeble  protection :  these  dif- 
ficulties and  other  obstacles  were  taken  into  ma- 
ture consideration ;  and  a  second  conference  was 
held  on  the  evening  of  the  5th,  when  general 


,•'■>* 


^ 


'i 


it- . 


3»*i'."  #^'S. 


"W'ln'  it,,^    '    F": 


re  ako  in- 
i  Carillon, 

success : 
upon  four 

the  saw- 
re  so  short 
B  reduced 
i  of  bread, 

not  mur- 
jver,  daily 

strong,  as 

which  he 
[oyne  sent, 
s  Phillips, 
hem  on  the 
e  proposed 
few  days  to 
,  who  were 
eft  wing  of 

as  we  did 
Qr  the  posi- 
r  four  days 
attack,  and 
tores  for  so 

these  dif- 
jn  into  ma- 
ference  was 
len  general 


J|flPPt?.piyil  Ml 


r^'-i-'-  ■(*: 


ft 


147 


Riedesel  positively  declared,  that  our  situation 
was  so  critical,  that  if  we  did  not  march  against 
the  enemy  within  a  day,  attack  him,  and  bring 
about  a  favourable  change  in  our  affairs,  it  would 
be  better  to  return  to  Battenkill,  for  after  having 
passed  the  Hudson,  in  the  r^ar  of  Battenkill,  we 
should  not  be  in  dangef  of  again  being  cut  off 
from  Fort  George,  and  might  wait  until  we  should 
hear  of  general  Clinton's  movements  towards  act- 
ing in  concert  with  our  army.  General  Fraser 
approved  of  the  latter  plan ;  general  Phillips  re- 
flised  to  express  any  opinion,  and  general  Bur- 
goynej  who  was  not  much  pleased  at  this  idea  of 
retreating,  declared  that  he  would  make,  on  the 
7th,  a  reconnoissance  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
left  wing  of  the  enemy,  with  a  view  of  ascertaining 
whether  it  could  be  attacked  with  any  prospect  of 
success.  He  would  afterwards  attack  the  enemy, 
on  the  8th,  or  return  to  the  position  at  Freeman's 
house,  and  begin,  on  the  11th,  the  retreat  in  the 
rear  of  Battenkill.  This  being  his  final  resolu- 
tion, there  remained  nothing  to  be  done  but  to 
conform  o  it. — During  the  6th,  foraging,  parties 
were  s^nt  but,  and  provisions  were  distributed  for 
four  days  in  advance.  On  the  7th,  at  10  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  fifteen  hundred  men  destined 
for  the  reconnoissance,  marched  out  of  the  camp 
with  eight  pieces  of  cannon,  under  the  immediate 
command  of  general  Burgoyne,  who  was  accom- 


•t^ 


>!• 


':i- 


# 


•<*^>l^oaHM^. 


.^* 


•-^i 


/ 


■fi 


4  * 


*•*         ^■'.  i-^ 


J- 


Jf  « 


•^ 


148 


%i 


i-M. 


panied  on  that  expedition  by  generals  Riedeset, 
,  Phillips,  and  Eraser.  Formed  in  three  columns, 
they  advanced  within  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of 
y  the  enemy's  left  wing,  where  we  met  one  of  his 
detachments  occupying  Weisser's  house;  and  after 
having  driven  him  from  that  place,  the  neighbour- 
ing heights,  which  were  almost  surrounded  with 
«^  WQods,  were  occupied.  Whilst  we  were  ponialt- 
mine  upon  the  best  manner  of  pursuing  our  recon- 
"fioissance,  the  enemy  impetuously  attacked  our 
left  wing :  and  the  British  grenadieis  posted  in  th.e 
wood  were  defeated.  Lieutenant-colonel  Specht, 
tirlio  commanded  the  centre,  made  a  good  standi 
and  would  have  maintained  the  conflict  stilf  long- 
er, had  not  lord  Balcarras,  who  was  on  his  right, 
been  recalled  through  some  mistake.  Bein^  now 
assailed  in  front  and  on  both  his  flanks,  he  was 
obliged  to  retreat  with  his  three  hundred  men. 
From  that  moment,  the  enemy  rushed  forward 
from  all  sides;  upon  which  general  Burgoyne 
gave  order  to  retreat  to  the  great  redoubt,  on  the 
right  wing  of  general  Fraser's  division.  The 
troops  had  scarcely  arrived  there,  when  the  enemy 
began  their  attack  on  the  redoubt  with  the  utmost 
impetuosity,  but  could  not  carry  it,  and  we  remain- 
ed in  possession  of  it  during  the  night.  However, 
Breymann's  corps,  reduced  to  two  hundred  men, 
and  simultaneously  assailed  on  all  sides  by  the 
enemy,  gave  away  goon  after  its  leader  was  killed. 


mi 


'  ^^K0w^^t^^^^K^^t99^f^^' 


-Mfi'~' 


.  i^- 


I    ' 


^.*u 


\ 

edeset, 
lumns, 
mile  of 

of  his 
td  after 
[hbour- 
id  with 
lOiuHilt- 

recon- 
Led  our 
i  in  th.e 
Specht, 
i  'stan4» 

ilf  IciUi- 
s  right, 
iijg  now 
he  was 
»d  men. 
forward 
irgoyne 
on  the 
The 
enemy 
utmost 
remain- 
owever, 
3d  men, 
by  the 
killed. 


W 


■^ 


?>"^«^ 

w*     % 


149 


Oeneral  Burgoyne  determined  now,  but  unfor- 
tunately too  late,  upon  retreating  to  Battenkill. 
On  the  8th,  before  daybreak,  we  left  our  position, 
and  defiled  into  the  plain,  where  our  stores  were, 
but  were  obliged  to  make  a  halt  until  the  evening, 
because  the  hospital  could  not  be  sooner  removed. 
In  the  evening  we  continued  our  retreat,  general 
Riedesel  forming  the  vanguard  with  four  bafef 
talions,  to  cross  the  Hudson,  and  take  post  behind 
Battenkill.  But  the  general  had  scarcely  reached 
Dovogat,  when  he  received  orders  to  stop.  To 
our  great  amazement,  a  day  was  again  unneces* 
sarily  lost.  In  the  evening  we  set  out,  and 
passed  Fishkill,  near  Saratoga.     The  enemy  ha- 

' ,;  ;|lready  posted  himself  on  the  bank  of  the 
•ri  :ri  on,  near  Battenkill,  general  Burgoyne 
thought  it  dangerous  to  pass  that  river*  The 
army,  therefore,  (on  the  10th,)  took  up  a  position 
near  Saratoga,  which  was  strong  enough  on  the 
left  flank,  towards  Fishkill,  but  which,  on  the 
other  flank,  and  in  the  centre,  was  so  defective, 
that  it  was  impossible  to  defend  it.  In  the  even- 
ing, the  whole  ajmy  of  the  enemy  came  up.  We 
had,  on  that  day,  detached  two  regiments  under  the 
command  of  lieutenant-colonel  Sutherland  to  this 
side  of  the  Hudson  to  reconnoitre  the  road  towards 
Fort  Edward,  and  captain  Twiss,  of  the  engineers, 
accompanied  tliis  detachment  to  repair  the  bridges, 

13*        ' 


,'  ■"■ 


'.«*,  ;-.^ 


s-  ■ 


rf 

■^ 

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m 

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r^T' 


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.% 


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w*-; 


*;  .. 


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.*■ 


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^ti^ 


*#; 


150 

Sutherland  got  as  far  as  an  hour's  march  from 
Fort  Edward,  and  began  repairing^  the  principu! 
bridge,  when  unluckily  he  received  an  order  to 
retire.  On  the  11th,  in  the  morning,  this  enemy 
passea  the  Fishkill  with  three  brigades,  in  order 
to  attack  the  rear  of  our  army.  He  succeeded  so 
far  as  to  take  our  boats,  an  officer  with  thirty 
men,  and  a  great  number  of  boatmen.  A  brisk 
fire  being  kept  up  there,  the  enemy  were  obliged 
to  repass  the  Fishkill;  but  the  batteaux  and  a 
great  portion  of  our  stores  were  lost.  During  the 
whole  day,  our  army  was  cannonaded  in  front  and 
in  the  rear,  and  the  outposts  fired  on  each  other 
incessantly.  In  the  evening,  general  Burgoyne 
sent  again  for  generals  Riedesel  and  Phillips,  to 
consult  with  them ;  and  being  himself  of  opinion, 
that  it  was  impossible  to  make  a  successful  attack, 
and  to  maintain  our  position,  either  in  the  centre, 
or  on  the  right  flank,  Mr.  de  Riedesel  pro- 
posed to  sacrifice  the  baggage,  and  to  retreat 
during  the  night,  to  this  side  of  the  Hudson  ; — not 
towards  Fort  Edward,  but  to  ford  the  river  four 
miles  below  that  point,  and  then  to  advance 
speedily  to  Fort  George,  which  might  yet  be  ac- 
complished, the  enemy  not  having  yet  occupied 
the  road  on  this  side  of  the  river.  But  nothing 
was  definitely  concluded  upon  that  evening. 
Things  continued  in  the  same  state  the  followinp^ 


m^ 


K 


•^Tlfrt*.;,. 


■X 


'"^m' 


151 


a 


dc.y  (the  12th.)  The  enemy  occupied  the  posts 
along  the  river  to  Fort  Edward,  and,  also,  ex- 
tended more  along  our  front. 

At  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  we  had  again  a 
conference,  to  which  the  brigadiers  Gall  and 
Hamilton  were  invited.  General  Riedesel  urged 
most  diligently,  and  in  the  strongest  language,  the 
necessity  of  the  retreat,  and  recommended  a  plan, 
which  he  considered  still  practicable,  but  which 
the  least  movement  of  the  enemy  would  render 
impossible.  The  retreat  was,  at  last,  resolved 
upon;  but  when  nothing  seemed  wanting  to  ij;s 
execution,  it  was  discovered  that  the  order  for  dis- 
tributing, on  the  next  morning,  provisions  for  six 
days,  in  advance,  had  not  been  executed.  The 
commissariat  was  directed  not  to  delay  any  longer, 
and  it  was  determined  that  the  retreat  should  be- 
gin between  10  and  U  o'clock,  when  it  was 
thought  the  provisions  would  be  distributed.  Ge- 
neral Riedesel  was  to  lead  the  vanguard,  and  ge- 
neral Phillips  the  rear.  ^,. 

At  10  o'clock,  general  Riedesel  sent  word  to 
general  Burgoyne,  that  the  commissariat  had  per- 
formed their  duty ;  but,  to  his  great  astonishment, 
he  received  for  answer,  that  it  was  now  too  iate, 
and  that  the  army  should  remain  quiet. 

On  the  13th,  in  the  morning,  our  situation  was 
jTveatly  altered.  Surrounded  by  the  enemy,  and 
obliged  to  pass  a  marshy  ravine,  and  to  ascend  a 


( / 


^ 


t    '? 


Wi 


m 


'd^a 


>^ 


152 


,'* 


1^ 


«f»-. 


steep  hill  to  ^  each  them,  we,  on  the  other  hand, 
would  have  removed  from  the  river  at  such  a  dis- 
tance, that  the  enemy  could  easily  have  advanced 
from  the  other  bank  to  attack  our  rear ;  conse- 
quently, the  fit  moment  of  retreating  was  past, 
and  the  retreat  itself  imi)r8Cticable.  We  had 
provisions  only  for  five  days.  General  Burgoyne 
called,  therefore,  the  commanders  of  the  batta- 
lions in^'>  a  general  council  of  war,  where  he  ex- 
plained the  situation  of  our  army,  and  the  force 
and  position  of  the  enemy.  He  stated,  that  he 
saw  no  mode  of  attacking  the  enemy;  and  should 
we,  against  all  probability,  beat  him,  the  want  of 
provisions  would  prevent  us  from  reaching  Fort 
George;  that  e  retreat  seemed  impracticable  in 
any  other  mannei  than  that  each  individual  should 
make  his  way  as  well  as  he  could,  through  almost 
impassable  forests ;  that  we  could,  indeed,  main- 
tain ourselves,  in  our  actual  positions,  five  days 
longer  with  the  provisions  wo  had,  but,  after  that 
time,  our  situation  would  be  worse ;  that  our  po- 
sitions in  the  centre,  and  on  the  right  fiank,  were 
altogether  untenable  ;  and,  consequently,  the  de- 
feat and  dispersion  of  our  army  not  only  proba- 
ble but  certain.  After' a  short  pause,  intended  to 
leave  the  officers  time  to  reflect  upon  what  he  had 
told  them,  general  Burgoyne  solemnly  declared, 
that  he  alone  would  be  responsible  for  the  present 
situation  of  the  army,  as  he  never  hud  asked  any 


•t'' 


I 


)r  hand, 
^h  a  dis- 
dvanced 
;  conse- 
as  past, 
We  had 
lurgoyne 
le  batta- 
re  he  ex- 
he  force 

that  he 
id  should 

want  of 
ing  Fort 
icable  in 
al  should 
h  almost 
3d,  main- 

ive  days 

ler  that 
our  po- 

ink,  were 
the  de- 
^  proba- 

ended  to 

at  he  had 
eclared, 

B  present 
_sked  any 


153  «r 

« 
t 

advice,  but  required  a  submissive  obedience  to 
his  commands.  General  Riedesel  could  not  but 
approve  of  a  public  declaration  so  well  calculated 
to  convince  every  body,  that  he  had  in  io  man- 
ner participated  in  the  preceding  meatuses;  and 
he  begged  all  the  British  officers  to  testify  the 
same,  whenever  he  should  be  called  to  an  account 
on  that  head.  General  Burgoyne  then  laid  the 
following  queries  before  the  council  of  war  :  '. 

1st.  Whether  military  history  offered  prece- 
dents of  any  ariny  having  capitulated  in  such  a 
situation?  —  •■_     -u  .,■;.  «£s:, -^ "•■■-.' .-•vr^  . 

2d.  Whether  a  capitulation,  under  such  circum- 
stances, would  be  dishonourable  *?     * 

3d.  Whether  the  army  really  was  in  such  a  si- 
tuation as  to  be  obliged  to  capitulate  ?     ,  •     --^^ 

On  the  first  proposition,  it  was  generally  an- 
swered, that  the  situation  of  the  Saxon  army  at 
Pima,  of  general  Fink  at  Maxen,  and  of  prince 
Maurice  of  Saxony,  had  been  less  unfortunate  and 
forlorn  than  that  in  which  our  army  was  plac^^d ; 
and  that  nobody  could  have  blamed  generals  who 
should  have  capitulated  at  such  a  juncture,  \n 
order  to  save  their  armies,  although  the  king  ( f 
Prussia  cashiered  general  Fink,  bn^  chiefly  .0 
gratify  his  personal  resentment,  "'i^^:-.,^-^','^^^ 

On  the  second  question,  the  general  answer 
was,  that  the  capitulation  could  not  be  dishonour- 


1  I 


ity-     ^ 


.-■-•Vfrtifr        ', 


m 


m 


WW 


t^  ill 


^^•ifm-m^JIkt 


■*m.-    ■'■^^Ik^- 


.■•^^-"^fc  j..*-n' 


■.•,-  ^''.. .  w  .        J^.- 


"•Si  * 


fi 


f(^ 


i. 


i 


'■^*w 


154 


able,  on  the  ground  already  stated  in  the  ahswci 
to  the  first  query :  * 

And  on  the  third,  all  the  officers  replied,  that 
if  general  Burgoyne  should  see  any  possibility  of 
Huccessfully  attacking  the  enemy,  they  were  ready 
to  sacrifice  their  lives  in  the  attempt ;  but  that, 
on  the  contrary  supposition,  they  thought  it  ad- 
visable rather  to  preserve  to  the  Iiing  his  army,  by 
means  of  an  honourable  capitulation,  than  by  a 
protracted  hesitation,  after  all  stores  should  be 
exhausted,  to  surrender  at  discretion,  or,  on  the 
first  attack  from  the  enemy,  in  such  an  untena- 
ble y  jsition,  to  be  dispersed  and  separately  de- 
stroyed. •  ^  I 

After  this  unanimous  declaration,  general  Bur- 
goyne exhibited  the  heads  of  a  treaty,  which  be- 
ing deemed  advantageous,  were  approved  of  with- 
out any  dissent.  General  Burgoyne  then  deter- 
mined to  send  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  enemv's  camp, 
to  inform  them,  that  an  oflicer  would  be  despatched, 
on  the  following  day,  to  treat  with  general  Gates, 
.;  ^  (the  commander  of  the  American  army,)  on  some 
business  of  great  moment,  and  to  agree  upon  a 
suspension  of  hostility,  in  the  mean  time  :  general 
%  Gates  inmiediately  acquiesced.  .   - 

On  the  14th,  at  10  o'clock  in  the  morning,  ma- 
jor Kingston*  was  sent  to  the  Americans  with  ge- 

*  He  was  deputy  adjutant-general. 


^.  l^^ 


^  *MlH*"*  --^   ■  5i»*('  T%*  A 


■^■•.^ 


^»^:  ^.-s;-.  . 


in  the  aiiswci 


155  ^ 

iierarwurgoyne's  proposals  to  surrender  our  armv, 
upon  condition  that  it  should  be  conveyed  to  Eos- 
ton,  and  from  thence  shipped  for  England,  under  an 
engagement  not  to  bear  arms  against  the  Ameri- 
cans in  the  present  contest,  or  before  an  ex- 
change. ;--/'t       H-^   •-   ; 

General  Gates  rejected  these  conditions,  and 
sent  counter-proposals,  consisting  of  six  articles, 
by  the  first  of  which  it  was  required  that  the  army 
should  surrender  as  prisoners  of  war ;  and  by  the 
last,  that  the  troops  should  lay  down  their  arms 
in  the  intrenchments  which  they  actually  occu- 
pied, and  march  afterwards  to  the  points  which 
should  be  indicated  to  them. 

General  Burgoyne  convened  anew  a  council  of 
war,  and  read  general  Gates'  proposal^.  The 
officers  declared,  unanimously,  that  they  would 
rather  die  than  submit  to  such  dishonourable  con- 
ditions. General  Burgoyne  rejected  them,  there- 
fore, and  assured  the  enemy,  that  no  other  condi- 
tions would  be  agreed  to,  thari  those  whicli  he 
had  proposed.  •  The  suspension  of  hostilities  ceased 
in  consequence.  But  to  the  great  astonishment 
of  every  body,  general  Gates  sent,  on  the  15th,  in 
the  morning,  new  proposals  of  capitulation,  in 
which  he  acquiesced  to  all  that  general  Burgoyne 
had  stipulated,  except  some  immaterial  things,  but 


e 


^■"** 


h 


*<■- 


..   n 


f 


^^' 


I  Si 


■ 


tf 


I 


Ir  ■ 

if 


'  ^ 


i 


I 


•'.♦' 


156 


insisted  that  the  army  should  leave  its  actual  po* 
sition,  at  2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Such  a  sudden  change,  and  especially  the  new 
article,  created  fresh  doubts.  The  council  of  war 
was  again  convocated,  and  it  was  resolved  that 
general  Gates'  proposals  should  be  accepted ;  but 
as  they  were  but  preliminary  articles,  and  many 
subsequent  arrangements  were  to  be  made  before 
general  Burgoyne  could  sign  the  capitulation,  the 
proposed  delay,  it  was  alleged,  was  too  short.  It 
was  therefore  suggested,  that  a  commission  should 
be  appointed,  to  be  composed  of  two  staff  officers 
from  each  army,  who  should  treat  together  re- 
specting the  additional  stipufations,  and  prepare 
the  conditions  to  be  finally  acted  upon. 

Lieutenant-colonel  Sutherland  and  captain 
Craig  were  accordingly  sent  on  our  part.  The 
commissioners  remained  in  session  until  1 1  o'clock 
in  the  evening,  and,  at  last,  all  our  propositions 
were  accepted  by  the  enemy.  Tnere  were,  re- 
spectively, orders  asked  and  sent,  on  points  of  lit- 
tle importance,  but  as  the  commissaries  of  the 
enemy  consented  to  all  that  ours  proposed,,,  the 
latter  thought  that  they  were  fully  authorized  to 
conclude  the  treaty,  and  promised,  upon  their  own 
and  general  Burgoyne's  word,  that  it  would  be  re- 
turned with  the  general's  ratification  the  next  morn- 
ing.   They  rejoined  us  at  midnight.    Not  long 


capitula 

staritly 

were  pu 

1st.  \ 

commiss 

promisee 

of  the  II 

2d,  W 

sufficient 

advantag 

actual  9it 

3d.  W 

tend  its  ai 

On  the 

against, 

concl^dei 

whicKonc 

I  required 

Uen> 


•4|S*'^ 


al  po* 

le  new 
of  war 
5d  that 
d;  but 
I  many 
before 
ion,  the 
ort.     It 
1  should 
officers 
ther  re- 
prepare 


157 


-if 


■■(i^ 


afterwards,  a  deserter  informed  us  that  he  had  heard 
thatgeneral  Clinton  had  not  only  taken  the  intrench- 
mentft  on  -the  Highlands,  but  that  a  week  ago,  |ie 
had  advanced  with  his  troops  and  his  fleet  to 
JDsopus,  and  must,  in  all  probability,  have  reached 
Albany,  by  that  time.  General  Bt^rgoyne,  and  se« 
veral  other  officers,  were  so  much  elated  with  this 
news,  that  they  began  .to  think  of  breaking  the 
capitulation.  Another  council  of  war  was  in- 
stantly eonvoned,  and*  the  foUowing  questions 
were  put  to  them :  .  *  • 

Ist.  Whether  a  treaty  definitively  settled  by 
commissi<Hiers,  might,  even  after  the  general  had 
promised  to  sign  it,  be  broken,  without  a  violation 
of  the  rules  of  honour  ^  •  * 

2d.  Whether  the  intelligence  just  received  was 
sufficiently  authentic,  to  justify  the  rupture  of  so 
advantageous  an  arrangement,  considering  'our 
actual  Qituation4 

3d.  Whether  the  army  had  spirit  enough  to  de- 
fend its  actual  position,  mitil  the  last  extremity  '^ 

On  the  first  question,  there  were  fourteen  votes' 
against,  and  eight  for  declaring,  that  a  treaty 
'concluded,  under  such  *  circumstances,    and   by 
which  one  of  the  parties  had  granted  iall  that  was" 
I  required  by.  tho  other,  could  honourably  be  bro- 
ken> 


*^*' 


•:i^j»/.'"«.;j'<^*5f;.3*t''.'"-;7-^,::'J^ir"- 


14      ?<■*'■■■':  ;iiV5:-;.»; 


t, 


f 


4 


■=^/!:-A 


'4e 


« 


J. 


■0  -# 


t^ 


'h 


r 


r 


■f- 


158 


iM' 


The  opinions  were,  also,  divided  upon  the  second 
^         question.   Those  who  were  in  the  negative,  were  in- 
t    .x>  fluenced  by  the  consideration  that  the  intelligence 
'  received  was  mere  hearsay.      It  would  be  very 

different,  said  they,  if  general  Clinton  had  sent  a 
despatch,  or  if  the  informer  had  arrived  from  that 
general's  army ;  and,  even  if  the  general  was  at 
^sopus,  he  would  yet  be.  too  distant  to  relieve  us 
from  our  desperate  situation. 
'     To  the  third  question,  the  officers  of  the  left 
wing  answered  in  the   affirmative;  but   the  rest 
stated,  that  although  ■  they  were  convinced  that 
the  soldiers  would  d- 'play  the  greatest  courage, 
should  we  attack  thu  <^nemy,  still,  as  they  were 
aware  of  the    inconveniences  of  our  position,  it 
might  be?  apprehended,  that  they  would  not  so 
well  sustain  an*  assnult.     To  gain  time,  general 
Bui'goyne  resorted  to  the  expedient  of  writing  to 
general  Gates,  early  in  the  morning,  to  tell  him 
that  he  had  been    informed,  thrpugh    deserters 
and  others,  that  general  Gates  had  detached  a 
considerable  portion  of  his  army  to  Albany,  and 
this  during  the  course  of  the  negotiation  on  the 
treaty ;  which,  he  added,  Was  contrary  to  all  princi- 
ples of  fair  dealing  and  good  faith,  and  he  could  not 
sign  the  capitulation,  unless  he  was  assured  that  i 
the  American  army  was  three  or  four  times  mote] 
numerous  than  the  English;  that  general  Gates 


> 


\x 


rt  A  W    T^    Vl-t 


*'--K' 


i 

t. 

iC^ 

ii 

-I.      ti 


*' 


159 


it^ 


should,  therefore,  show  his  forces  to  the  officer 
whom  general  Burgoyiio  should  deHpatch  for  the 
purpose;  and  should  it  appear  from  Ins  report,  that 
such  is  the  relative  strenirth  of  the  two  armies,  he 
would  immediately  sign  tiie  capitulation.  Major 
Kingston  was  th(!  b»mrer  of  this  letter,  and 
brought  back  general  Gates'  answer,  that  general 
Burgoyne  might  depen<i  upon  his  word,  that  thg 
strength  of  his  army  remained  as  it  had  been,  at 
the  time  when  he  arrived  before  Saratoga;  that 
he  had  even  since  tlien  been  reinforced  by  a  bri- 
gade, and  that  during  the  negotiation  no  post  had 
been  reduced ;  that  it  would  be  as  unwise  as  de- 
rogatory to  his  honour,  to  display  his  army  before 
a  British  officer,  and  tiiat  this  was  altogether  i(iad- 
missible ;  that  general  Burgoyne  '^hottld  reflect 
well,  before  he  resolved  upon  breaking  his  wor<', 
and  consider  the  consequences  ;  but,  that  as  soon 
as  the  capitulation  should  be  signed,  general 
Gates  would  readily  show  to  general  Burgyyne 
his  whole  army;  and  he  gave  him  his  word,  that  ho 
would  find  it  four  times  stronger  than  his  own, 
without  including  the  troops  which  were  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Hudson ;  but  that  he  could  not 
now  grant  more  than  an  hour  for  a  final  answer, 
and  that,  after  the  expiration  of  thaS  s  riod,  he 
should  be  obliged  to  adopt  the  promptest  mea- 


.A 


<Ji 


I- 


'i- 


\.4i 


-««*fc«rt*'- '  w.rt»«i^,,,^' 


■*> 


:#' 


1 


160 


■7^- 


I 

,).: 


In  consequence  of  this  communicatrori,'  ahbt^er 
council  of  war  was  summoned,  and,  in  this  meet- 
ing, those  who  had  voted  for  the  rupture  of  the 
capitulation  changed  their  opinions.  General 
Burgoyne '  took  generals  Riedesel  and  Phillips 
aside,  and  requested  their  friendly  advice.  Both 
remained  silent  for  a  while,  until  general  Riedesel 
declared,  that  if  general  Burgoyne  should  be  call- 
ed to  An  account  in  England,  it  would  oftly  be  for 
the  movements  by  which  the  army  had  been 
brought  into  such  a*  situation,  and,  perhaps,  on 
the  score,  that  the  overture  for  a  capitulation  had 
first  come  from  him,  and  for  not  having  early  re- 
treated so  far  as  to  remain  master  of  the  commu- 
nications with  Fort' George ;  but  that,  after  all  the 
steps  which  had  been  taken,  he  considered  it  as 
still  more  dangerous  to  break  the  treaty  on  the 
ground  of  news  which  were  so  uncertain.and  unau- 
thentic. Brigadier-general  Hamilton,  who  joined 
our  ^ittle  circle,  was  of  the  same  opinion.  But 
general  Phillips  contented  himself  With  saying, 
that  things  were  in  such  a  situation,  that  he  was 
unable  to  offer  either  advice  or  help.  After 
much  deliberation,  general  Burgoyne  resolved  to 
ratify  the  capitulation,  and  he  forwarded  *it  by  m^- 
jor  Kingston. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  the  army  set  oflf,  and 
all  the  conditions  of  the  treaty  were  fulfilled.    jGe- 


■"^  P**^-*?!''**'^??^^ 


;'.„*■  161  •*■■ 

neral  Gates  ordered  his  whole  army,  which  \Vas 
on  this  side  of  the  Hudson,  to  be  drawn  up  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Fishkill.  Some  officers,  who 
were  commissioned  to  muster  it,  declared  it  to  be 
from  23  to  24,000  men  strong. — General  Riedesel 
ordered  that  no  colours  should  be  surrendered  with 
the  arms ;  that  the  staves  should  be  burnt,  and  the 
flags  carefully  packed  up:  by  means  of  which, 
each  of  the  German  regiments  remained  in  pos- 
session of  its  colours.     , 


;^7^,  ■'"'^' 

« 

.N 


<- 


• 


* 


•>•,». 


The  Memoir  from  which  the  preceding  account 
is  extracted,  was  dated  from  Stillwater,  on  the  next 
day  after  the  slirrender  at  Saratoga;  that  is,  the 
18th  of  October,  and  signed  and  certified  by  all 
the  officers  who  had  commanded  the  several  Ger- 
man regiments  and  battalions.  It  may  be  added, 
that  after  the  captive  army  had  reachfed  Cambridge, 
near  Boston,  the  American  Congress  refused  to 
ratify  that  article  of  the  capitulation  by  which  it 
was  stipulated  that  these  troops  should  be  shipped 
from  Boston  for  England :  and  that  they  were  con- 
sequently obliged,  contrary  to  the  treaty,,  to  re- 
main in  America  as  prisoners  of  vv"ir. 

This  gave  rise  to  much  debate  in  Congress. 
On  the  question  whether  in  regard  of  that  article, 


V 


■i 


.  JFw 
■4    -!  Ofe 


1 

r 


..>V  »•    ii 
■■     ,1 


■if. 


r 


# 


■^ 


M:i^ 


"%*t 


w 


It 


it 


4: 

Mi 


11 


I 


%,: 


-.-  t, 


>ip* 


& 
# 


■^t 


it 


the  treaty  should  be  strictly  executed,  variouaoJ)i- 
nions  existed,  and  it  was  only  through  the  inter- 
position and  suggestions  of  general  Lafayette, 
that  it  was  deeded,  as  already  said,  to  the  preju- 
dice of  the  English  and  Oennan  troops;  for  he 
could  easily  foresee,  that  a  war  would  soon  break 
out  between  France  and  England,  and  he  wished 
to  prevent  the  latter  from  employing  these  forces 
elsewhere.  To  overcomri  ail  the  hesitations  of 
Congress,  Lafayette  referred  to  the  example  which 
,4he  English  had  given  in  the  seven-years  war, 
respecting  the  capitulation  of  Kloster-Seven. 
When  general  Burgoyne  showed  the  first  draft 


-ir 


p^  Jhe  capitulation,  general  Riedesel  advised  him 
to  propose  to  general  Gates,  that  the  troops  should 
return  to  Canada,  tvithout  their  arms,  and  under 
an  engagement  not  to  fight  against  the  Ameri'cans, 
during  the  present  war,  unless  exchanged ;  but 
general  Burgoyne  thought  that  the  enemy  would 
ne^r  agree  to  it,  and  therefore  proposed  that  the 
troops  shouli^  be  sent  to  Boston,  and  shipped  from 
that  port  to  England.  When  this  was  afterwards 
a  subject  of  conversation,  »•  taring  the  march,  ge- 
neral Gates'  adjutant  general  intimated,  that  ge- 
neral Riedeselis  propositions  would  have  been  ac- 
cepted, on  account  of  the  great  difficulty  of  pro- 
viiding  die  captive  troops  with  proVisions,  on  their 


Li 


'^■% 


.*  I 


*• 


163 


nii|irch  to  Boston.  Had  the  generaPs  advice  been 
followed  by  general  Burgoyne,  the  army,  instead 
of  being  lost  to  England,  could  have  been  employ- 
ed elsewhere,  and  would  have  escaped  many  suf- 
ferings. '       •     ,  . 


w 

•  •  •        > 


►    .'•%:''*^t»  ill  ^ 


.n- 


$. 


.i. 


»■  % 


i^         at. 


t 

# 


^     ^1.) 


-.'•r'p^- 


'4^' 


1^' 


.^ 


164 


f*'  !J  ?»^.     f||^f 


iSW'*^"'?'',"' 


Continuation  of  Mad.  de  RiedeseVs  account  of  her 
residence  in  America. 


.'■M-  '■I'lf-  if 


When  the  army  broke  .up,  on  the  11th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1777,  I  was  at  first  told  that  I  must  re- 
main behind ;  but  on  my  repeated  entreaties,  and 
as  other  ladies  had  been  permitted  to  follow  the 
army,  the  same  indulgence  was  extended  to  me. 
We  advanced  by  short  journeys,  and  went  through 
many  toils;  yet  I  would  have  purchased  at  any, 
price  the  privilege  thus  granted  to  me  of  seeing 
daily  my  husband.  I  had  sent  back  my  baggage, 
and  only  kept  a  small  bundle  of  summer  dresses. 
In  the  beginning,  all  went  well ,  we  thought  that 
there  was  little  doubt  of  our 'being  successful,  and 
of  reaching  "the  promised  land","  and  when  on 
the  passage  across  the  Hudson,  general  Burgoyne 
exclaimed,  "Britons  never  retrograde,"  our  spirits 
rose  mightily.  I  observed,  however,  with  aittrprise, 
that  the  wives  of  the  officers  were  beforehand  in- 
formed of  all  the  military  plans;  and  I  was  so 
jnuch  the  more  struck  with  it,  as  I  remembered 
With  how  mueh  secrecy  all  dispositions  were  made 
in  the  annies  of  Duke  Ferdinand,  during  the  se- 


,!■ 


■Mr    ..*» 


163^ 


M 


ven-years*  war.*  Thus  the  Americans  anticipated 
ail  our  movements,  and  expected  us  wherever  we 
arrived :  and  this  of  course  injured  our  affairs.  Oh 
the  i9th  of  September,  an  action  took  place,  which 
ended  to  our  advantage;  but  we  were  in  consequence 
obliged  to  halt  at  a  place  called  Freeman's  Farm.  I 
witnessed  the  whole  action,  and  knowing  that  my 
husband  was  among  the  combatants,  I  was  full  of 
anxiety  ^nd  care,  and  trembled  at  every  shot— and 
nothing  escaped  my  ear.  I  saw  a  great  number 
of  wounded,  and  what  was  still  worse,  three  of 
them  were  brought  into  the  house  where  I  was. 
One  of  them  was  a  major  Harnage,  whose  wife-'; 
was  with  us;  the  second  a  lieutenant,  whose  wife^ 
was  of  our  acquaintance;  and  the  third  a  young  En- 
glish officer,  called  Young.  The  major  occupied, 
with  his  wife,  a  room  <;lose  by  to  that  where  I  was. 


*'  Lieutenant  Aaburey  made  a  similar  remark,  \^hen  the  army 
was  yet  in  Canada  :  "  We  have  more  dangerous  enemies  at  home, 
than  any  we  have  to  encounter  abroad ;  for  &11  the  transactions 
that  are  to  take  place,  are  publicly  knowrt,  long  before  they  are  offi- 
cially given  out  in  orders ;  and  I  make  no  doubt,  but  you  will  be  as 
much  surprised  as  the  general  (Burgoyne)  was,  when  I  tell  you, 
that  the  whole  operations  of  the  ensuing  campaign  were  canvassed 
for  several  days  before  he  aiYived,  who  no  doubt  suppcsed,  that 
in  giving  out  his  orders,  he  was  communicating  an  entire  i  yret." 
-[Montrpal,  May  20(h.  1777.    Vol.  1,  p.  203.] 

Great  secrecy,  observes  the  same  writer,  was,  aa  the  contrary, 
observed  in  the  American  arm V.  ^    *  '"     -;?%'• 


■k 


:;>ffc^-  »jj^>»>-ll  •  '\i<^l 


S--4.- *• 


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i^L 


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166  f 

■  «.i  ■  ■.       (  ' 

lie  liad  received  a  shot  through  his  bo^,  and  suf- 
fered exqi'isite  pains.  A  few  days  after  our  arri- 
val, I  heard  groans  in  another*  room,  and  was  told 
that  the  ydung  officer,  whom  1  have  j»i3t  mention- 
ed, was  lying  there,  and  tihyr  ids  rocovfry  was 
very  doubtful.  I  took  mu*  h  hitorest  in  Ivir  i  as  a 
family  of  his  name  'Md  sh  vvn  mti  grc<it  kiif).nC!»s. 
during  my  stay  in  England.  H.e  expressed  agreat 
desire  to  see  hi  benefactress,  for  so  he  called  me. 
I  went  into  his  room,  and  found  him  on  ^.  thiibed 
of  straw  for  he'' -id  tost  his  whole  bag,^iige.  He 
was  eighteen  or  nin<  teers  years  oir.  ^n  only  son, 
and  the  nephew  of  the  same  Mr.  Young  I  had 
ki>»wn  in  Englaifd.  He  lamented  for  his  parents' 
yake,  but  said  nothing  of  his  sufferings.  He  had 
lost  much  blood,  and  the  surgeon  advised  hirri  to 
submit  to  the  amputatiofs  of  his  wounded  Ifeg;  but 
he  would  not  consent  to  il  though  the  limb  had  be- 
come gangrenous.  I  sent  jjim  pillows  and  "blan- 
kets, and  my  maids  gave  him  their  mattrfess.  I 
took  more  and  more  care  of  him,  and  visited  him 
daily ;  for  which  he  thanked  me  .a  thousand  times. 
At  last,  the  amputation  took  place,  but  it  was  too 
late,  and  he  died  a" few  days  afterwards.  My  room 
being  close  to  his,  and  the  walls  very  thin,  I  heard 
his  last  moans. 

I  occupied  a  tolerably  good  house  and  had  a  large 
room.  The  door  and  the  w:ainscot  were  of  cedar. 


■^'', " 


t. 


%  ♦■ 


r-' 


'^:; 


mf 


a  sort  of  wood  which  is  found  in  abundance  here : 
insects  are  driven  away  by  the  smell"  of  it,  when  it 
is  burned;  and  :i  is  often  used  for  that  purpose; 
but  some  people  believe  that  the  .  smoke  of  it  is 
injurious  to  the  nerves,  and  principally  to  females 
in  certain  situations. 

For  our  farther  march,  I  had  caused  a  calash  to 
be  made  for  me,  in  which  I  could  take,  not  only 
my  children,  but  also  my  tirtcr  female  attendants: 
and  thus  I  followed  the  army  in  the  inidst  of  the 
troops,  who  were  in. great  spirits,  and  sang  and 
longed  for  victory.  We  marched  through  endless 
forests,  and  a  beautiful  district,  though  deserted 
by  the  inhabitants,  who  ran  away  at  our  approach, 
to  reinforce  general  Gates';  army.  They  are  na- 
turally soldiers.,  and  excellent  marksmen,  and  the 
idea  gf  fighting  for  their  country  and  their  liber- 
ty, increased  their  innate  courage.  My  husband  was 
encamped  with  the  rest  oftlie  army :  heing  myself 
about  an  hqur's  ride  behind  the  army,  I  went  every 
morning  to  pay  him  a  visit  in  the  camp,  and  some- 
times I  (Uped  there  with  him,  but  generally  he 
took  his  dinner  in  my  quarters.  There  were  daily 
skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  generally  of  little  im- 
portance. But  my  husband  could  never  sleep 
without  his  clothes.  The  weather  having  already 
grown  rougher,  colonel  Williams  of  the  artillery 
thought  our  mutual  visits  were  rather  too  fatiguing. 


il 


n 


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A"-' 


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I 


flu. 


vt 


^t 


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^^ 


I*   K* 


for^^8,ai]id,  proposed.  |o  havis  a  hoiM|Pi|)Vl<;iy  ine 
with  ,i^,i;)yiii^^y,  whi<^i  should  fiot  Copt  Jliple.  than 
five  or  si^^guineas^a^d  which  I  Citi||}jdiiiiii»terrupt- 
edly  ipbabit.  I  ai^epted  of  hni  i>^arr  JMld  ^^^^ 
buildiQg) which  ^%to  be  about t>Yeiij^||!»jtiuiwire, 
was  bogun..  ^uch  a  d#irl|ing  is  called  a  block- 
)i|l^use,  for  which  logs  nearly  ol  equal  diameter  are 
put  together;  and  if  Uje  iijter»tic«a  are  fill- 
ed  up  with  clay,  ijt  is  not  oplyvery  solid,,  but  very 
wam>  I  was  to  take  possesiiKM)  jQ^  it  on  the 
next  d^jr :  and  I  fejpiced  i^  it  the  more,  as  the 
nights  vk^ere  damp  and  coldv  and  it  being  cjose  to 
the  canqpl^y  husband,  would  beabji^.  to  be  with 
me.  But  ^1  at.Qnce^;.«tti  ihe  .7tb  of  October,  he 
marched  away  with  the  whole  ^aif,  md  then  eur 
niisfertui^jG^s  began..  While  .breakfasting  with  my 
husboiid,  I  heaird^that  somethiiig  was  uadei;  ©on- 
templatipn.  General  Fraser,  and  I  believe^ gene- 
rab  Burgoyne  and' Phillips  were  to  dj^ine  witk  me 
on  that  day.  I  remarked  much;move]|aeiit-in  the 
camp.  My  husbpud  told  ine  that  it  was  ;a  mere 
Teconn(»6sance ;  and  as  this  was  frpqiMpt,  I  was 
not  much  alarmed  at  it.  On  my  way  homeward, 
hI  met  a  num^  of  Indians  c  laedMth  guns,  and 
elail  in  their  war  dresses.  Havi%  asked  them 
where  they^^  where  going,  they  replied,  '^  War, 
war;"  by  which,  they  mjant  that  th^y  were  about 
tofight.  JI:J^^«^i.\^^v^^^^ 


-# 


1  had 


P 


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.  -  -,* 


■4^Jt<i# 


-■<*.(■ 


&' 


blopk- 
iterare 
re    fill- 
*ttvery 
on  the 
as  the 
c^ose  to 
be  with 
3ber,  be 
lien  our 
vith  my 
ier,  ©on- 
p^  gene- 
frith  me 
t  in  the 


169 

scarcely  got  home,  before  I  heard  reports  of  guns; 
and  soon  the  fire  became  brisker,  till  at  last  the 
noise  grew  dreadful,  upon  which  I  was  more  dead 
than  alive.     About  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  in- 
stead of  guests  whom  I  had  expected  to  dine  with 
me,   I  saw  one  of  them,  poor  general   Fraser, 
brought  upon  a  hand-barrow,  mortally  wounded. 
The  table,  which  was  already  prepared  for  dinner, 
was  immediately  removed,  and  a  bed  placed  in  its 
stead  for  the  general.     I  sat  terrified  and  trem- 
bling in  a  corner.     The  noiye  grew  more  alarm- 
ing, and  I  was  in  a  continual  agony  and  tremour, 
while  thinking  that  my  husband  might  soon  also 
be  brought  in,  wounded  like  general  Fraser.  That 
poor  general  said  to  the  surgeon,  "tell  me  the 
tmth :  is  there  no  hope  .'*"    His  wound  was  exactly 
like  that  of  major  Harnage ;  the  ball  had  passed 
through  his  body,  but  unhappily  for  the  general, 
he  had  that  morning  eaten  a  full  breakfast,  by 
which  the  stomach  was  distended,  and  the  ball,  as 
the  surgeon  remarked,  passed  directly  through  it. 
I  heard  often  amidst  his  groans,  such  words  as 
tliese,   "  O  bad  ambition !  poor  general  Burgoyne  ! 
j)oor  Mistress  Fraser.''^*     Prayers  were  read,  after 
which  he  desired  that  general  Burgoyne  should  be 

*=  In  the  original  work,  these  words  are  ia  English,  as  here 
written. 

15 


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requested  to  have  him  buried  on  the  next  day,  m 
6  o'clock  in  the  e<vening,  on  a  hill  where  a  breast- 
work had  been  constructed.  I  knew  not  what  to 
i\^ ;  'he  entrance  and  all  the  rooms  were  full  of 
sif;k,  in  consequence  oil  the  dysentery  which  pre- 
vailed in  the  cvnp.  At  length,  towards  evening, 
my  husband  came,  and  from  that  moment  my  af- 
fliction was  much  soothed,  and  I  breathed  thEmks 
to  God.  H<  V.  d  with  me  and  the  aids-de-camp 
in  great  haste,  in  an  open  space  in  the  rear  of  the 
house.  We  poor  females  had  been  told,  that  our 
troops  had  been  victorious ;  but  I  well  saw,  by  the 
melancholy  countenance  of  my  husband,  that  it 
was  quite  the  contrary.  On  going  away,  he  took 
me  aside,  to  tell  me  every  thing  went  badly,  and 
that  I  should  prepare  myself  to  depart,  but  with- 
out saying  any  thing  to  any  body.  Under  the  pre- 
tence of  removing  the  next  da^  to  my  new  lodg- 
ings, I  ordered  the  baggage  to  be  packed  p. 
Lady  Ackland's  tent  was  near  ours.  She  siv  t 
there,  and  spent  the  day  in  the  camp.  On  a  sud- 
den, she  received  the  news  that  her  husband  was 
m^jitaily  wounded  and  taken  prisoner.  She  was 
much  dist'  ossed;  we  endeavoured  to  persuade  lie. 
tnat  the  \  -und  was  not  so  dangerous,  but  advised 
her  to  ask  permission  to  join  her  husband,  to 
take  care  of  him  in  his  sickness.  She  was  much 
attached  to  him,  though  he  wa'^  rude  and  intem- 


designal 
and  CO 
6  o'cloc 
the  ger 
j^isting 


% 


..f:-^.-.u.  ^.,.-t^- 


.^'•*-*fi 


^-.^^. 


ri 


|)orate ;  yet  he  was  o  gtK)d  officer.  She  was  a 
lovely  woman.  I  divided  the  night  between 
her  whom  I  wished  to  comfort,  and  my  children 
wiio  were  asleep,  but  who,  I  feared,  might  disturb 
the  poor  dying  general.  He  sent  me  several  mes- 
sages to  beg  my  pardon  for  the  trouble  he  thought 
he  gave  me.  About  3  o'clock,  I  was  informed  that 
he  could  not  live  much  longer,  and  as  I  did  not 
wish  to  be  present  at  his  last  struggle,  I  wrapped 
my  children  in  blankets,  and  retired  into  the  entrance 
hall.     At  8  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  expired. 

After  he  had  been  washed,  he  was  wrapped  in 
a  sheet,  and  laid  out  We  then  returned  into  the 
room,  and  had  this  melancholy  spectacle  before 
us  the  whole  day.  Many  officers  of  my  acquaint- 
ance were  brought  in  wounded,  and  the  cannon- 
ade continued.  There  was  some  talk  of  retreat- 
ing, but  I  saw  no  indications  of  it.  About  4 
o'<  '«>ck  in  the  afternoon,  I  saw  the  house  which 
liud  been  built  for  me,  in  flames,  from  which  I  in- 
ferred that  the  enemy  was  near.  We  were  in- 
l^imed,  that  general  Burgoyne  intended  to  com- 
j.  .  with  general  Eraser's  last  request,  and  to  have 
him  buried  at  6  o'clock,  in  the  place  which  he  had 
designated.  This  occasioned  an  useless  delay, 
and  contributed  to  our  military  misfortunes.  At 
6  o'clock,  the  corpse  was  removed,  and  we  saw  ^dl 
the  generals,  with  their  retinues,  on  the  i»il),  as- 
sisting at  the  funeral  ceremony.     The   English 


V 


V.-. 


.5^ 


^ 

%• 


♦^ 


172 


chaplain,  Mi.  Brudenel,  officia't.;.  Cannon-ball^ 
flew  around  and  above  the  assembled  mourners. 
General  Gates  protested  afterwards,  that  had 
he  known  what  was  going  on,  ho  would  have 
stopped  the  fire  immediately.  Many  cannon-balls 
flew  close  by  me,  but  my  whole  attention  was  en- 
gaged by  the  funeral  scene,  where  I  saw  my  hus- 
band exposed  to  imminent  danger.*  This,  in- 
deed, was  not  a  moment  to  be  apprehensive  for 
my  own  safety.  >C* 

Orders  had  already  been  issued,  that  the  aftny 
should  break  up  immediately  after  the   funeral. 


*  General  Burgoyne  has  described  tliis  scene  with  his  usual 
felicity  of  expression  and  eloquence,  and  in  a  much  more  graphi- 
cal style  than  our  authoress.  Wo  beg  leave  to  copy  the  following 
passage : 

♦'  The  incessant  cannonade  during  the  solemnity ;  the  steady 
attitude  and  unaltered  voice  with  which  the  chaplain  officiated, 
though  frequently  covered  with  dust,  which  the  shot  threw  up  on 
all  sides  of  him  ;  the  mute  but  expressive  mixture  of  sensibiUty 
and  indignation,  upon  every  countenance  ;  these  objects  will  re- 
main, to  the  last  of  life  upon  the  mind  of  every  man  who  wa« 
present.  The  growing  duskiness  added  to  the  scenery,  and  tht 
whole  marked  a  character  of  that  juncture  that  would  make  oao 
of  the  finest  subjects  for  the  pencil  of  a  master,  that  the  Aeld  ever 
exhibited. — To  the  canvass,  and  to  the  faithful  page  of  a  more  im- 
portant historian,  gallant  friend  !  I  consign  thy  memory.  There 
may  thy  talents,  thy  manly  virtues,  their  progress  and  their  pe- 
riod find  due  distinction ;  and  long  may  they  survive ;  long  aftci 
the  frail  record  of  my  pen  shall  be  forgotten  !'' — Slo.le  of  Ihf  Ej- 
■pedilionfrom  Canada,  kc.  Scc.p.  160. 


^t, 


V     '•'  > 


'■».'■' 


QurncrH. 
lat  had 
lid  have 
lon-balls 
was  cii- 
my  hus- 
rhis,  m- 
isive  for 

he  army 
funeral. 


[\  hia  usual 
lore  graphi- 
lie  following 

the  steaJy 

in  officiated, 

hrew  up  on 

sensibility 

cts  will  re- 

n  who  wa« 
ry,  and  tht 

d  make  one 
lie  field  evcf 

a  more  im- 
jry.  There 
vd  their  pc- 

;  long  aftci 

c  of  the  Ex' 


^t 
-         ^ 


173 


and  our  calashes  were  ready.  I  was  unwilling  to 
<lepart  sooner.  Major  Harnage,  though  hardly 
able  to  walk  a  step,  left  hia  bed,  that  he  might  not 
remain  in  the  hospital,  upon  which  a  flag  of  truce 
had  been  erected.  When  he  saw  me  thus  in  the 
midst  of  danger,  he  drove  my  children  and  female 
attendants  into  the  vehicle,  and  told  me  that  I  had 
not  a  moment  to  lose.  I  begged  to  be  permitted 
to  remain  a  little  longer.  "  Do  what  you  please," 
replied  he ;  "  but  your  children  I  must  at  least 
save."  This  touched  my  most  tender  feelings  ; 
I  sprang  into  the  carriage,  and,  at  8  o'clock,  wc 
departed. 

Profound  silence  had  been  recommended  to  us; 
large  fires  were  lighted,  and  many  tents  were  left 
untouched,  to  conceal  our  movement  fi-om  the 
(!nemy.  We  proceeded  on  our  way  the  whole 
night.  Frederica  was  afraid,  and  began  to  cry : 
I  was  obliged  to  press  a  handkerchief  to  her 
mouth. 

We  were  halted  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
to  our  general  amazement.  General  Burgoyne 
ordered  the  artillery  to  be  drawn  up  in  a  line,  and 
to  have  it  counted.  This  gave  much  dissatisfac- 
tion, as  a  few  marches  more  would  have  ensured 
our  safety.  My  husband  was  exhausted  by  fa- 
tigue, and  took  a  seat  in  the  calash,  where  my 
maids  made  room  for  him ;  and  he  slept  for  three 


15 


r^* 


<» 


*v 


^-  «> 


'•!--.\ 


•  Jr 


i 


^*»»f« 


174 


A  ^; 


>      -■ 


hours  upon  my  shoulder.  In  the  mean  time, 
captain  Willoe  brought  me  his  pocket-book,  con- 
taining bank-notes,  and  captain  Geismar,  a  beauti- 
ful watch,  a  ring,  and  a  well-provided  purse,  re- 
questing me  to  keep  them,  which  I  promised  to 
do  to  the  last.  At  length  we  recommenced  our 
march ;  but  scarcely  an  hour  had  elapsed,  before 
the  army  was  again  halted,  because  the  enemy 
was  in  sight.  They  were  but  two  hundred  in 
number,  who  came  to  reconnoitre,  and  who  might 
easily  have  been  taken,  had  not  general  Burgoyne 
lost  all  his  presence  of  mind.  The  rain  fell  in 
torrents.  Lady  Ackland  had  caused  her  tent  to 
be  fixed  up.  I  again  suggested  to  her  the  propriet} 
of  rejoining  her  husband,  to  whom  she  might  be 
of  great  service,  in  his  present  situation.  Yield- 
ing to  my  advice,  she  sent  a  message  to  general 
Bargoyne,  through  his  aid-de-camp,  Lord  Patter- 
son,* to  beg  his  permission  to  leave  the  army.  1 
^  -  i^told  her  that  she  need  only  insist  upon  it,  and  she 


*  General  Burgoyne  had  two  aids-de-camp,— captain  lord  Pe- 
tersham and  lieutenant  "Wilford.  The  Baroness  probably  mistook 
the  name  of  the  former,  who  was  afterwards  earl  of  Ilarrinoton 
viscount  Petersham,  and  colonel  of  the  29th  regiment  of  foot.  Hci 
spelling  of  English  names  is  very  incorrect ;  which,  however,  is  lesF 
astonishing  in  a  German,  than  in  Hamilton,  whose  Warmestre,  oiif 
of  the  heroes  of  count  de  Grainmont'i:  Memoirs,  is  yet  an  unknowi; 
personage. 


t- 


^    ■«•-.».,. 


».**>:;„>;* 


■  ¥ 


I  time, 
k,  con- 
beauti- 
rse,  re- 
lised  to 
ced  ouv 
,  before 
enemy 
dred   w 
lo  might 
;urgoyne 
n  fell  ill 
r  tent  to 
propriety 
night  bo 
.     Yield- 
3  general 
d  Patter- 
army.     1 
,  and  she 


lain  lord  Pe- 
ably  mistoolv 

Ilai'rington. 
of  foot.  Hci 
wever,  is  les^ 
irmestre,  one 

an  unknowi; 


175 

T, 

would  certainly  succeed.  .  The  Rev.  Mr.  Brude- 
nel  accompanied  her,  and  they  went  together  in  a 
boat  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  the  enemy.     There  is 
a  Well  known  and  fine  engraving  of  that  event.     I 
afterwardis  met  with  lady   Ackland  at  Albany, 
when  her  husband  was  almost  entirely  recovered ; 
and  both  thanked  me  for  my  advice.     On  the  9th, 
it  rained  terribly  the  whole  day ;  nevertheless  we 
kept  ourselves  ready  to  march.      The   savages 
liad  lost  their  courage,  and  they  walked  off"  in 
all  directions.     The  least  untoward  event  made 
them  dispirited,  especially   w^hen  there   was    no 
opportunity  for  plunder.     My  chamber-maid  ex- 
claimed  the   whole   day  against   her    fate,    and 
seemed  mad  with  despair.     I  begged  her  to  be 
quiet,  unless  she  wished  to  be  taken  for  a  savage. 
Upon  this  she  became  still  more  extravagant,  and 
asked  me,  "  If  I  should  be  sorry  for  it"?" — "  Sure- 
ly," replied  I. — She  then   tore  her  cap  from  her 
liead,  and  let  her  hair  fall  upon  her  face.     "  You 
lake  it  quite  easily,"  said  she,  "  for  you  have  your 
liusband ;  but  we  have  nothing  but  the  prospect 
of  being  killed,  or  of  losing  the  little  we  possess." 
I  observed,  that  with  regard  to  her  losses,  I  would 
promise  to  repay  them,  as  well  as  those  of  the 
other  maid,  who  was  also  much  afraid,  but  was  too 
good-natured  to  say  any  thing. 
We  reached  Saratoga  about  dark,  wJiic'i  was 


> 


,^x-r 


ii 


m 


1^    f 


176 


^■ 


but  half  an  hour's  march  froin  tlie  place  where  \vc 
had  spent,  the  day.     I  was  quite  wet,  and  was 
obliged  to  remain  in  that  condition,  for  want  of  a 
place  to   change   my  apparel.     I  seated  myself 
near  the  fire,  and  undressed  the  children,  and  wc 
then  laid  ourselves  upon  some   straw. — I   asked 
general  Phillips,  who  came  to  see  how  I  was,  wli] 
we  did  not  continue  our  retreat,  my  husband  ha- 
ving pledged  himself  to  cover  the  movement,  and 
to  bring  off  the  army  in  safety.     "  My  poor  lady," 
said  he,  "  you  astonish  me.     Though  quite  wet, 
you  have  so  much  courage  as  to  wish  to  go  farther 
in  this  weather.     What  a  pity  it  is  that  you  are  not 
our  commanding  general !     He  complains  of  fa- 
tigue,   and   has   determined   upon    spending    the 
night  here,  and  giving  us  a  supper."     It  is  very 
true,  that  general  Burgoyne  liked  to  make  himsel) 
easy,  and  that  he  spent  half  his  nights  m  singing 
and  drinking,  and  diverting  himself  witli  the  wifr 
of  a  commissary,  who  was  his  mistress,  pnd   who 
was  as  fond  of  Champaign  as  himself     1  refresh- 
ed myself  at  7   o'clock,  the  next  morning,  (the 
lOth  of  October,)  with  a  cup  of  tea,  and  we  all 
expected  that  we  should  soon  continue  our  march. 
General  Burgoyne  had  given  orders  to  set  fire  to  ge- 
neral Schuyler's  fine  buildings  and  mills  at  Sarato- 
ga, foi  the  purpose  of  securing  our  retreat.     An 
lilnglisli  officer  brought  me  some  good  soup,  and 


I 


-  ^ 


Jf^ 


177 


insisted  that  I  should  partake  of  it.  After  this,  we 
continued  our  march;  but  only  for  a  short  time. 
There  was  much  misery  and  disorder  in  the  army. 
The  commissaries  had  forgotten  to  distribute  pro- 
visions, though  we  had  an  abundance  of  cattle. 
I  saw  more  than  thirty  officers,  who  complained 
bitterly  of  hunger.  I  gave  them  coffee  and  tea, 
and  every  thing  eatable  that  I  had  in  my  calash. 
My  cook  was  a  great  rogue,  but  a  man  of  infinite 
resources.  He  availed  himself  sometimes  of  the 
darkness  of  the  night,  to  ford  brooks  and  steal 
poultry,  sheep,  and  hogs,  and  put  them  upon  his 
bills,  as  if  he  had  bought  them ;  a  manoeuvre,  of 
which  it  was  a  long  time  before  we  knew  any 
thing.  But  my  provisions  were  now  exhausted, 
and  regretting  deeply  my  inabi'ity  to  assist  those 
who  came  to  complain  of  hunger,  I  called  to  adju- 
tant-general Patterson,  (lord  Petersham,)  who  ac- 
cidentally passed  close  by  me,  and  said,  with  all 
the  indignation  which  I  felt  at  that  moment, 
"Come,  sir,  see  these  oflScers,  who  have  shed 
their  blood  for  the  common  cause,  and  who 
are  in  want  of  every  thing,  because  they  do  not 
receive  what  they  ought  to  receive.  It  is  your 
duty  to  call  the  general's  attention  to  all  this." 
He  seemed  much  affected,  and  ihe  consequence 
was,  that,  in  less  than  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  gent 
ral  Burgoyne  came  towards  me,  and  thanked  mo 


« 


n 


Mi 


t 


~Mv^-  '■_*.'"•*'      ^-Jh-^fc/         *«».... 


is^Btli 


'i*' 


'i 


178 


t 


f 


ii 


■m 


most  pathetically,  for  having  reminded  him  of  his 
duty.  He  added,  that  a  general  whose  orders  were 
not  obeyed,  was  much  to  be  pitied.  I  replied, 
that  I  begged  his  pardon,  for  having  meddled  in 
affairs  with  which  a  woman  had  nothing  to  do ; 
but  that  I  could  not  forbear  saying  what  I  liad  ex- 
pressed, when  I  saw  so  many  gallant  officers  in  need 
of  every  thing,  while  I  was  destitute  of  the  means 
of  assisting  them.  He  thanked  me  again,  (though 
I  really  believe  he  has  never  forgiven  me,)  and, 
addressing  the  officers,  said,  that  he  felt  much  re- 
gret for  their  sufferings,  and  that  he  had  given  or- 
ders to  remedy  them,  and  asked  why  they  had  not 
called  on  him,  as  they  must  know,  that  as  long  as 
he  had  any  thing  to  eat,  they  might  dispose  of  it. 
They  replied,  that  British  officers  were  not  accus- 
tomed to  intrude  themselves  into  their  general's 
kitchen,  and  that  they  had  accepted,  with  mucli 
pleasure,  the  least  morsel  that  I  had  given  them, 
for  they  were  sure  that  it  was  oifere^i  with  real 
'vindness.  He  then  gave  new  orders  to  the  com- 
misisaries,  to  be,  in  future,  more  attentive  to  then 
duties.  But  this  did  not  much  inend  our  situation, 
though  it  caused  a  longer  delay.  The  geneni' 
went  to  eat,  and  our  calashes  remained  in  readi- 
ness to  depart.  Every  body  advised  a  retreaf. 
and  my  husband  pledged  himself  to  effe^.t  that 
juovement,  if  no  time  was  lost.     But  general  Bin 


179 


goyrie,  who  had  been  promised  an  Order,  if  he 
should  effect  his  junction  with  general   Howe, 
could  not  be  persuaded  to  it,  and  lost  every  thing 
by  his  dilatoriness.     About  2  o'clock,  we  heard 
again  a  report   of    muskets    and   cannon,    and 
there  was  much  alarm  and   bustle   amo)ig  our 
troops.     My  husband  sent  me  word,  that  I  should 
immediately  retire  into  a  house  which  was  not  far 
off.     I  got  into  my  calash  with  my  children,  and 
when  we  were  near  the  house,  I  saw,  on  the  oppo- 
site bank  of  the  Hudson,   five  or  six  men,  who 
aimed  at  us  with  their  guns.     Without  knowing 
what  I  did,  I  threw  my  children   into   the  back 
part  of  the  vehicle,  and  laid  myself  upon  them. 
At  the  same  moment  the  fellows  fired,  and  broke 
the  arm  of  a  poor  English  soldier,  who  stood  be- 
hind us,  and  who  being  already  wounded,  sought 
ii  shelter.     Soon  after  our  arrival,  a  terrible  can- 
nonade began,  and  the  fire  was  principally  di- 
rected against  the  house,  where  we  had  hoped  to 
find  a  refuge,  probably  because  the  enemy  infer- 
red, from  the  great  number  of  people  who  went 
towards  it,  that  tliis  was  the  head-quarters  of  the 
i^enerals,  while,  in  reality,  none  were  there  except 
women  and  crippled  soldiers.     We  were  at  last 
obliged  to  descend  into  the  cellar,  where  I  laid 
myself  in  a  corner  near  the  door.     My  children 
l>ut  their  h^ads  upon  my  knees.     An  abominable 


SfM'"* 


•■  •'*^  ^f   I      '*"'^'i^^    **" ' 


180 


^■^ 


smell,  the  cries  of  the  children,  and  my  own  an- 
guish of  mind,  did  not  permit  me  to  close  my  eyes, 
during  the  whole  night.  On  the  next  morning, 
the  cannonade  begun  anew,  but  in  a  different  di- 
rection. I  advised  my  fellow-sufferers  to  with- 
draw, for  a  while,  from  the  cellar,  in  order  to  give 
time  to  clean  it,  for  we  should  otherwise  in- 
jure our  health.*  On  an  inspection  of  our  re- 
treat, I  discovered  that  there  were  three  cellars, 
spacious  and  well  vaulted.  I  suggested,  that  one 
of  them  should  be  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the 
officers  who  were  most  severely  wounded,  the  next 
to  the  females,  and  the  third,  which  was  nearest 
to  the  staircase,  to  all  the  r{:M  of  the  company. 
We  were  just  going  down,  when  a  new  thunder 
of  cannon  threw  us  i  gain  into  alarm.  Many  per- 
sons, who  had  no  right  to  enter,  threw  themselves 
against  the  door.  My  children  were  already  at 
the  bottom  of  the  staircase,  and  every  one  of  us 
would  probably  have  been  crushed  to  death,  had 
I  not  put  myself  before  the  entrance,  and  re- 
sisted the  intruders.  Eleven  cannon-balls  passed 
through  the  house,  and  made  a  tremendous  noise. 
.\  poor  soldier,  who  was  about  to  have  a  leg  am- 
putated, lost  the  other  by  one  of  these  balls.     All 


'■  Mad.  de  Ricdesel  is  here  too  particular  in  her  narrative. 


.'<< 


>•/. 


181 


own  an- 
my  eyes, 
[norning, 
erent  di- 
to  with- 
r  to  give 
wise    in- 
f  our  re- 
e  cellars, 
,  that  one 
ISO  of  the 
,  the  next 
IS  nearest 
company. 
V  thunder 
Many  per- 
hemselves 
already  at 
one  of  us 
leath,  had 
and   re- 
Is  passed 
ous  noise, 
a  leg  am- 
)alls.     All 


arrativc. 


liis  comrades  ran  away  at  that  moment,  and  when 
they  returned,  they  found  him  in  one  corner  of  the 
room,  in  the  agonies  of  death.  I  was  myself  in 
the  deepest  distress,  not  so  much  on  account  of 
my  own  dangers,  as  of  those  to  which  my  husband 
was  exposed,  who,  however,  frequently  sent  me 
messages,  inquiring  after  my  health.  Major  Har- 
nage's  wife,  a  Mrs.  Reynell,  the  wife  of  the  good 
lieutenant  who  had,  on  the  preceding  day,  shared 
his  soup  with  me,  the  wife  of  the  commissary,  and 
myself,  were  the  only  officer's  wivei  at  present 
with  the  army.  We  sat  together,  deploring  our 
situation,  when  somebody  having  entered,  all  my 
companions  exchanged  looks  of  deep  sorrow,  whis- 
pering at  the  same  time  to  one  another.  I  imme- 
diately suspected  that  my  husband  had  been  killed. 
I  shrieked  aloud ;  but  was  immediately  told  that 
!  othing  had  happened  to  my  husband,  and  was 
oiven  to  understand,  by  a  sidelong  glance,  that  the 
lieutenant  had  been  killed.  His  wife  was  soon 
called  out,  and  found  that  the  lieutenant  was  yet 
alive,  though  one  of  his  arms  had  been  shot  off, 
near  the  shoulder,  by  a  cannon-ball.  We  heard 
Ills  groans  and  lamentations  during  the  whole  night, 
which  were  dreadfully  re-echoed  through  the  vault- 
ed cellars  ;  and  in  the  morning  he  expired.  My 
husband  came  to  visit  me,  during  the  night,  which 
served  to  diminish  my  sadni^ss  and  dejection  in 

16 


'^- 


#\  J 


-*■ '  ' 


/■■? 


1 1 


^.^,ur  ...--.:  t-4j*i<!t^tt 


I 


-^ 


182 


■€ 


^ 


'» 


■>Pf-- 


'\ 


ji'fj 


V  , 


H^': 


some  degree.  On  the  next  morning,  we  thoughts 
of  making  our  cellar  a  more  convenient  residence. 
Major  Harnage  and  his  wife,  and  Mrs.  Reynell, 
took  possession  of  one  corner,  and  transformed  it 
into  a  kind  of  closet,  by  means  of  a  curtain.  J 
was,  also,  to  have  a  similar  retreat ;  but  I  prefer- 
red to  remain  near  the  door,  that  I  might  escapf; 
more  easily  in  case  of  fire.  I  had  straw  put  un- 
der my  mattresses,  and  on  these  I  laid  myself  with 
my  children ;  and  my  female  servants  slept  near 
us.  Opposite  to  us  were  three  officers,  who, 
though  wounded,  were  determined  not  to  remain 
;  -  <"  Ijehind,  if  the  army  retreated.  One  of  them  was 
^  captain  Green,  aid-de-camp  to  general  Phillipsi 

''■\' -ilk     ^^'^  ^  ^'^•'y  ^iTiiable  and  worthy  gentleman.     All 
'     J  three  swore  they  would  not  depart  without  me,  in 

'■     **    case  of  a  sudden  retreat,  and  that  each  of  them 
,>  would  take  one  of  my   children   on   his   horse. 

One  of  my  husband's  liorses  was  constantly  in 
readiness  for  myself.  Mr.  dc  Riedescl  thought 
often  of  sending  me  to  the  American  camp,  to 
save  me  from  danger;  but  I  declared  that  nothin" 
would  be  more  painful  to  me,  than  to  live  on  good 
terms  with  those  with  whom  he  was  fighting;  upon 
which  he  consented  that  I  should  continue  to  fol- 
low the  army.  However,  the  apprehension  thfil 
he  might  have  marched  away,  repeatedly  intruded 
itself  into  my  mind ;  and,  I  crept  up  the  staircase, 


«*^. 


?«  '> 


,.,a;^ 


V 


41^ 


i^. 


rr- 


T^: 


■ft. 


^i^> 
•> 


!  thought 
Bsidence. 
Reynell, 
formed  it 
irtain.     J 
I  prefer- 
tit  escape; 
V  put  un- 
yself  witli 
slept  near 
;ers,   who, 
to  remain 
them  was 
l1  Philhps; 
man.     All 
lout  me,  in 
h  of  them 
his   horse, 
[istantly  in 
cl   thouglil 
1  camp,  to 
lat  nothing 
ve  on  good 
iting ;  upon 
inue  to  fol- 
snsion  that 
ly  intruded 
e  staircase, 


18a 


sbi 


more  than  once,  to  confirm  or  dispel  my  fears,  and 
when  I  saw  our  soldiers  near  their  watch-fires,  I 
became  more  calm,  and  could  even  have  slept. 
I  was,   also,   uneasy  on  account  of  the  articles 
whicii  had  beei:  entrusted   to  my  care.*     Our 
cook  procured  us  our  supplies  of  eatables,  but  we 
were  in  want  of  water,  and  I  was  soon  obliged  to  • 
drink  wine  to  quench  my  thirst,  and  to  give  the 
same  to  my  children.     My  husband,  too,  had  no 
other  drink,  which  made  our  honest  Rockel  inti- 
mate to  me  one  day,  that  he  feared  that  his  mas- 
ter used  so  much  wine,  because  he  was  afraid  of 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and,  there- 
fore, weary  of  life.     The  danger  in   which  my 
husband  was,  kept  me  constantly  in  the  most  un- 
pleasant state  of  mind.     Being  the  only  one  who 
had  not  lost  her  husband,  or  whose  husband  had 
not  been  wounded,  I  asked  myself  very  often,  "Is 
so  much  happiness  reserved  for  me  alone*?" — a 
reflection  so  much  tlie  more  natural,  as  he  was 
day  and  night  in    the  very  jaws  of  death.     He 


■*"  Our  authoress  hero  becomes,  again,  loo  ,>articular  in  her  nar- 
rative, and  says  too  much  respecting  ht-  toilette,— the  gallantry 
of  the  ■wounded  olficers  who  were  in  the  cellar,  while  slie 
(tressed  herself, — and  their  ingenuity  in  diverting  her  children,  by 
imitating  the  bellovi^ing  of  bulls,  and  the  bleating  of  sheep,  by 
which  tlio  elder  were  greatly  amused,  while  the  ycinger  fell 
n^lrep. 


^   r%.  . 


— .^ 


,  # 
* 


I ' 


^ 


'i( 


if^  i> 


\^ 


'li^ 


•"a: 


of. 


P*«i»*~ 


■H#!*J(^^ 


•* 


184 


•l< 


I. 


never  passed  a  whole  night  in  his  tent,  bur  -dt  by 
the  watch-fires,  which  alone,  considering  the 
coldness  and  dampness  o**  the  ground,  may  be 
thought  sufficient  to  have  !  .iled  him. 

The  want  of  water  continuing  to  distress  us,  we 
could  not  but  be  extremely  glad  to  find  a  soldier's 
wife  so  spirited  as  to  fetch  some  from  the  river,  an 
occupation  from  which  the  boldest  might, have 
shrunk,  as  the  Americans  shot  every  one  who  ap- 
proached it.  They  told  us  afterwards  that  they 
spared  her  on  account  of  her  sex. 

I  endeavoured  to  dispel  my  melancholy,  by  con- 
tinually attending  to  the  wounded.  I  made  them 
tea  and  coffee,  for  which  I  received  their  warmest 
acknowledgments.  I  often  shared  my  dinner  with 
them.  One  day  a  Canadian  officer  came  creep- 
ing into  our  cellar,  and  was  hardly  able  to  say 
that  he  was  dying  with  hunger.  I  felt  happy  to 
offer  him  my  dinner,  by  eating  which  he  recovered 
his  health,  and  I  gained  his  friendship.  On  our 
return  to  Canada,  I  became  acquainted  with  his 
family. 

I  also  took  care  of  major  Blomfield,*  wh6  was 


1  -H 


'A 


,^ 


^ 


*  The  German  laJy  calls  him  Plumpfiekl.     Major  Blomlieiit 
was,  according  to  general  Wilkinson,  in  1816,  member  of  parliament 
for  Plymouth,  major-general  in  the  army,  lientenant-colonel  of  tli' 
royal  artillery,  chief  equerry,  anil  clerk-martial  to  the  kinj,'. 


■*■  Ik  ' 


'»7*' 


f-.      .'^ 


/   TV   !    ■  ■  ■  '■  ''  '        -  -.11 


::'f 


U'  idt  by 

ring    tlu; 

may  be 

iss  us,  we 
soldier's 
river,  aii 
ght,have 
!  who  ap- 
that  they 

f,  by  con- 
ade  them 
•  warmest 
nner  witli 
ae  creep- 
le  to  say 
happy  to 
ecovered 
On  our 
with  his 

\\\i6  was 


:)!•  Blomfielil 
)f  parliament 
olonel  of  111' 


t 
\ 


185 


I  new  friend, 

.ii''l-l  of  cares 

^  iiave  weigh- 

)ne  of  these 


wounded  by  a  musket-ball  which  passed  through 
botli  cheeks,  knocked  out  his  teeth  and  injured 
his  tongue.  He  could  retain  nothing  in  his  mouth, 
and  soup  and  liquids  were  his  only  nourishment. 
Fortunately  we  liad  some  Rhenish  w  ino,  and  in  the 
hope  that  the  acidity  would  coptribuiv;  to  heal  his 
wound,  I  gave  him  a  bottle,  <jf  uliich  he  took  a 
little  now  and  then,  and  iT  '»ch  v  '♦^ct  that  he 
was  soon  cured.  I  thus  a'  qi 
and  enjoyed  some  happine^ 
and  sufferings,  which  other\ 
ed  heavily  upon  my  spirits, 
mournful  days,  general  Phillips,  wishing  to  pay 
me  a  visit,  accompanied  my  husband,  who  came 
once  or  twice  daily,  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  and  see- 
ing our  situation,  and  observing  the  entreaties  I 
made  to  my  husband  not  to  be  left  behind,  in  case 
the  army  should  suddenly  break  u]),  and  my  re- 
luctance to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  ho 
plead  my  cause,  and  said,  on  retiring,  "  I  would 
not,  for  ten  thousand  guineas,  see  this  place  again. 
I  am  heartbroken  with  what  I  have  seen." 

All  our  companions,  however,  did  not  deserve 
so  much  commiseration.  We  had  some  in  our 
cellars  who  ought  not  to  have  been  there,  and 
who,  afterwards,  when  we  were  prisoners,  were  in 
perfect  health,  and  walked  about  quite  erect  and 


.»,( ■ '. 


•,fi 


I 


■■  ft 


.i\.:--i 
^ 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


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■"IS 


m  m 


2.0 


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^.v^.- 


Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


"^f^ 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^ 


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iH'-'?T-' 


^     ( 


^ 


.■/ 


a 


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eft 


V. 


# 


> 


186 


strutted  as  much  as  they  could.  We  remained 
six  days  in  this  doleful  retreat.  At  last  a  capitu- 
lation was  talked  of,  in  consequence  of  having 
lost,  by  useless  delays,  the  opportunity  of  effect- 
ing our  retreat.  A  cess^ition  of  hostilities  took 
place,  and  my  husband,  who  was  quite  exhaust- 
ed by  fatigue,  could  now,  for  the  first  ,time, 
take  some  rest  under  a  tolerable  shelter.  He 
slept  quietly  in  a  little  chamber,  while  I  reti- 
red with  n»y  children  and  the  maid-servants 
into  the  adjoining  room.  Towards  one  o'clock, 
a  person  came  and  asked  to  speak  with  him. 
I  was  very  reluctant  to  awaken  him,  at  that 
hour  of  the  night;  and  I  soon  observed  that  the 
errand  did  not  much  please  him,  for  he  imme- 
diately sent  the  messenger  back  to  the  head  quar- 
ters, and  laid  himself  down  again,  out  of  humour. 
Soon  after  this,  general  Burgoyne  sent  for  all  the 
generals  and  field-officers  to  attend  a  council  ot 
war,  early  next  morning,  when  he  proposed  to  break 
the  capitulation,  in  consequence  of  some  ground- 
less information  he  had  received.  It  was,  however, 
decided  that  this  step  was  neither  advisable  nor 
practicable  ;  and  this  determination  was  very  fortu- 
nate for  us,  as  the  Americans  told  us  afterwards,  that 
had  we  broken  the  treaty,  we  should  all  have  been 
cut  to  pieces.  This  they  could  easily  have  done, 
'""•iNr   *i|%  :f 


>• 


■J. 


.*• 


•%Vi 


■J 


'•■  ■■;* 


•  V 


187 


<K 


as  our  army  was  reduced  to  four  or  five  thousand 
men,  while  we  had  given  them  time  to  raise  theirs 
to  twenty  thousand.  On  the  morning  of  the  16th, 
liowever,  my  husband  was  obliged  to  repair  to  his 
post,  and  I  to  my  cellar. 

On  this  day,  fresh  beef  was  abundantly  distribu- 
ted to  the  officers,  who  had  hitherto  lived  on  salt 
meat,  to  the  great  injury  of  all,  but  especially  of 
those  who  were  wounded.  The  good  woman  who 
used  to  fetch  us  water  from  the  river,  made  us  an 
excellent  soup;  but  I  had  lost  all  appetite*  and 
liad,  for  many  days,  eaten  nothing  but  crests  of 
bread  dipped  in  wine.  The  wounded  officers 
who  shared  my  misfortunes,  cut  off  the  best  piece 
of  the  meat,  and  presented  it  to  me  with  some 
soup.  I  declined,  but  as  they  saw  that  it  would  be 
dangerous  for  me  to  remain  longer  without  eating, 
they  declared  that  they  would  not  touch  a  morsel, 
until  I  had  set  them  the  example.  I  could  no 
longer  withstand  such  kindness,  and  they  assured 
me  very  politely,  that  nothing  could  give  them 
more  pleasure  than  to  share  with  me  the  first  good 
thing  which  they  could  enjoy. 

On  the  17th  of  October,  the  capitulation  was 
carried  into  effect.  The  generals  waited  upon 
the  American  genera]  Gates,  and  the  troops  sur- 
rendered themselves  prisoners  of  war  an4  laid 
h.  *\   itM' 


L-»        »^  ■ 


■"» 


,v 


.* 


k. 


-K 


'iM 


< 


.•w**?!^'  '■  '  "*  ?.!!«!Ki««**"'*''''*''''**iP!ilP*^S'^ 


■V 


»* 


(*lv 


'  v*. 


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^ 


t- 


#:■ 


''"'V''  'liMKP'' 


■t: 


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^^ 


'^188 


down  their  arms.  The  time  had  now  come  for 
the  good  woman  who  had  risked  her  life  to  supply 
us  with  water,  to  receive  the  reward  of  her  ser- 
vices. Each  of  us  threw  a  handful  of  money  into 
her  apron ;  and  she  thus  received  more  than  twen- 
ty guineas.  At  such  a  moment  at  least,  if  at  no 
other,  the  heart  easily  overflows  with  gratitude. 

At  last,  my  husband's  groom  brought  me  a  mes- 
sage to  join  him  with  the  children.  I  once  more 
seated  myself  in  my  dear  calash,  and,  while  riding 
through  the  American  camp,  was  gratified  to  ob- 
serve that  no  body  looked  aUus  with  disrespect, 
but,  on  the  contrary,  greeted  us,  and  seemed 
touched  at  the  sight  of  a  captive  mother  witji 
three  children.  I  must  candidly  confess  that  I 
did  not  present  myself,  though  so  situated,  wit!i 
much  courage  to  the  enemy,  for  the  thing  was  en- 
tirely new  to  me.  When  I  drew  near  the  tents,  a 
good  looking  man  advanced  towards  me,  and  help- 
ed the  children  from  the  calash,  and  kissed  aiid 
ca'-essed  them  :  he  then  offered  me  his  arm,  and 
t  trembled  in  his  eyes.  "  You  tremble,"  said 
lie  ;  "  do  not  be  alarmed,  I  pray  you."  . "  Sir," 
cried  I,  "a  countenance  so  expressive  of  benevo- 
lence, and  the  kindness  which  you  have  evin- 
ced towards  my  children,  are  sufficient  to  dispel 
all  apprehension."    He  then  ushered  me    into 


.c^ 


^1"''- 


-x.^-'-- 


ihIT''' 


189 


■Vi- 


A' 


tlie  tent  of  general  Gates,  whom  I  found  engaged 
in  friendly  conversation  with .  generals  Burgoyne 
and  Phillips.  General  Burgoyne  said  to  me :  "  You 
can  now  be  quiet  and  free  from  all  apprehension 
of  danger."  I  replied  that  I  should  indeed  be 
reprehensible,  if  I  felt  any  anxiety,  when  our  ge- 
neral felt  none,  and  was  on  such  friendly  terms 
with  general  Gates. 

All  the  generals  remained  to  dine  with  general 
Gates.  The  gentleman  who  had  received  me 
with  so  much  kindness,  came  and  said  to  me, 
"  You  may  find  it  embarrassing  to  be  the  only  la- 
dy in  such  a  large  company  of  gentlemen ;  will 
you  come  with  your  children  to  my  tent,  and  par- 
take of  a  frugal  dinner,  offered  with  the  best  will*?" 
"  By  the  kindness  you  show  to  me,"  returned  I, 
"  you  induce  me  to  believe  that  you  have  a  wife 
and  children."  He  informed  me  that  he  was 
general  Schuyler.  He  regaled  me  with  smoked 
tongues,  which  were  excellent,  with  beefsteaks, 
potatoes,  fresh  butter,  and  bread.  Never  did  a 
dinner  give  me  so  much  pleasure  as  this.  I  was 
easy,  after  many  months  of  anxiety,  and  i  read  the 
same  happy  change  in  the  countenances  of  those 
around  me.  That  my  husband  was  out  of  danger, 
was  a  still  greater  cause  of  joy.  After  our  dinner, 
general  Schuyler  begged  me  to  pay  him  a  visit  at 
his  house  near  Albany,  where  he  expected  that 


!• 

i 


■H  ■ 


■.  *r,  *•. 


t     v. 


>     •; 


>.-<.,'^t»f.»  ■~».».-  .   ~.-.i.— «« 


«5»y 


.,..—;,— -^B^--***    >p.'"'***»S, 


t  .      /      *> 


■4 


t 


t:v 


general  Burgoyne  would  also  be  his  ^ucst.  ] 
sent  to  ask  my  husband's  directions,  wlio  advised 
me  to  accept  the  invitation.  As  we  were  two 
days'  journey  from  Albany,  and  as  it  was  now  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  he  wished  me  to  endea- 
vour to  reach,  on  that  day,  a  place  distant  about 
three  hours  ride.  General  Schuyler  carried  his 
civilities  so  far  as  to  solicit  a  well-bred  Frencli 
officer  to  accompany  me  on  that  first  part  of  my 
journey.  This  gentleman  commanded  the  re- 
connoitering  party  of  which  I  have  made  mention. 
As  soon  as  he  saw  me  safely  established  in  the 
house  where  I  was  to  remain,  he  went  back  to  the 
general.  I  met  here  with  a  French  surgeon,  and 
with  an  officer  of  the  Brunswic  troops  under  his; 
care,  who  was  mortally  wounded,  and  died  a  few 
days  afterwards.  The  patient  spoke  in  the  highest 
terms  of  the  doctor's  humanity,  who  was  perhaps 
very  skilful  in  his  profession,  though  very  silly  in  his 
general  deportment.  He  was  in  a  great  ecstasy 
to  find  I  knew  French,  and  began  to  address  mo 
with  impertinent  Speeches,  varnished  with  many 
fine  compliments.  Thus  he  told  me  that  he  did  not 
believe  I  was  the  wife  of  a  general,  because  he 
thought  it  impossible  that  a  lady  of  that  rank 
should  follow  her  husband  into  the  camp ;  and 
when  once  among  military  people,  he  thought  it 
was  wiser  to  prefer  the  vanquishers  to  the  van- 


d^ 


-2' 
*# 


% 


-l*?*-"*"'"?'"**-- 


191 

(luished.     I  was  disgusted  by  this  impertinence, 
though  I  dared  not  show  him  the  contempt  which 
[  felt,  because  I  had  no  body  to  defend  me. 
When  night  approaiched,  he  begged  me  to  share 
Ills  room  with  him :  and  when  I  told  him  I  would 
watch  the  patient,  he  became  still  more  forward 
and  profuse  in  his  gallantry.    At  this  moment  my 
husband  entered,  followed  by  his  aid-de-cnmp. 
'There  is  my  husband,"  cried  I,  and  my  look  ex- 
pressed all  the  scorn  and  contempt  I  felt  for  the 
Frenchman.     He  immediately  retired,  with  much 
confusion,  but  had  presence  of  mind  or  politeness 
ftnough  to  offer  us  his  room.    On  the  next  day,  we 
reached  Albany,  where  we  had  so  often  wished 
ourselves ;  but  we  did  not  enter  that  city,  as  we 
lioped  we  should,  with  a  victorious  army.     The 
reception,  however,  which  we  met  with  from  gene- 
ral Schuyler,  his  Avife  and  daughters,  was  not  like 
the  reception  of  enemies,  but  of  the  most  intimate 
friends.    They  loaded  us  with  kindness ;  and  they 
behaved  in  the  same  manner  towards  general  Bur- 
goyne,  though  he  had  ordered  their  splendid  es- 
tabUshment  to  be  burnt,  and  without  any  necessi- 
ty, as  it  was  said.     But  all  their  actions  proved, 
that  at  the  sight  of  the  misfortunes  of  others,  they 
quickly  forgot  their  own.     General  Burgoyne  was 
so  much  affected  by  this  generous  deportment, 
that  he  said  to  general  Schuyler,  "You  are  too 


# 


#■ 


9 


« 


♦' 


•V 


Irl 


^- 


i* 


r*/*""- 


•- .nw.«.,. -.'-.»•-  •V-.*-.tr^- 


.>.^-.*-.-. 


'J 


r 


>4l 

i 


\  I 


..% 


192 

kind  to  me,  who  have  done  you  so  much  injury." 
"  Such  is  the  fate  of  war,"  replied  he ;  "let  us  not 
dwell  on  this  subject."  We  remained  three  days 
with  that  excellent  family,  and  they  seemed  to  re- 
gret our  departure.  Our  cook  had  remained  in 
town  with  my  husband's  baggage,  all  of  which  was 
lost  on  the  second  night  after  our  arrival,  though 
it  was  under  the  guard  of  ten  or  twenty  American 
soldiers.  I  preserved  only  my  bed  and  that  of  my 
children,  and  the  little  I  had  kept  with  me  for 
daily  use.  This  was  the  more  unfortunate,  as  it 
was  at  a  time  when  we  were  in  pressing  want  of 
many  things  which  we  could  not  have  pro- 
cured, even  had  we  been  furnished  with  plenty 
of  money  ;  and  my  husband  was  obliged  to  board 
his  aid-de-camp,  his  quarter-master,  (fee.  &c. 
Each  of  the  English  officers,  or  as  I  should  rather 
call  them,  our  friends,  for  such  they  proved  them- 
selves to  be,  during  the  whole  time  that  we  were 
together  in  America,  supplied  something  for  our 
relief;  one  gave  plates,  another  spoons,  <fec.  and 
from  these  supplies  we  were  obliged  to  keep  up 
our  establishment  for  three  years ;  and  only  upon 
f)ur  arrival  at  New- York,  were  we  able  to  supply  any 
of  our  losses,  and  even  then  at  great  expense.  For- 
tunately, I  had  kept  my  little  waggon,which  contain- 
ed my  own  trunks.  The  season  being  quite  advan- 
ced and  the  weather  raw,  I  caused  the  vehicle  to 


-m* 


tj^JtafftuV 


■» 


•■  •»  ••V.fc.TiUp-i  -i*"-     ♦•! 


¥" 


■1^ 


n-:«,-iw«t*wi«»,. 


193 


be  covered  with  oil-cloth,  and  we  continued  our 
journey  to  Boston,  though  by  short  stages,  and 
with  many  inconveniences.  I  am  not  sure  that 
my  vehicle  excited  much  curiosity,  though  really 
the  waggon  looked  more  like  a  cart  in  which  wild 
animals  are  conveyed,  than  any  thing  else ;  but  we 
were  frequently  stopped,  and  inquiries  were  made 
for  the  German  general's  wife  and  children.  To 
prevent  them  from  tearing  the  oil-cloth  cover,  I 
often  alighted  immediately,  and  did  well  in  doing 
so.  But  I  must  say,  in  justice,  that  the  Ameri- 
cans were  civil,  and  seemed  much  pleased  that  I 
spoke  their  language,  the  English. 

In  the  midst  of  all  my  troubles,  God  enabled 
ine  to  keep  up  my  spirits  and  to  be  cheerful ;  but 
iny  poor  husband,  who  brooded  continually  upon 
the  late  disastrous  events,  and  upon  his  captivity, 
became  moody,  and  was  easily  irritated  by  scenes 
like  those  I  have  mentioned.  His  health  was 
much  impaired  in  consequence  of  having  passed 
so  many  nights  in  the  damp  air.  One  day,  when 
lie  was  much  indisposed,  the  American  sentinels 
at  our  doors,  were  very  noisy  in  their  merriment 
and  drinking,  and  becL  . :  more  so  when  my  hus- 
band sent  a  message,  desiring  them  to  be  quiet; 
but  as  soon  as  I  went  myself,  and  told  them  that 
the  general  was  sick,  they  immediately  became 
silent,  which  proves  that  the  Americans  also  te- 

17 


'\ 


/.. 


r'^*^. 


^/ 


194 


H 


spect  our  se?^  Some  of  their  officers  who  accom- 
panied us,  had  been  shoemakers,  and,  on  our  halts, 
made  boots  for  our  officers,  and  sometimes  even 
mended  the  soldiers'  shoes.  Specie  was  of  great 
value  among  them,  on  account  of  its  scarcity. 
One  of  our  officers,  whose  boots  were  much  worn, 
said  in  jest  to  an<American  of  military  rank,  who 
had  a  good  pair,  that  he  would  pay  a  guinea  for 
his  in  exchange.  He  immediately  alighted  from 
his  horse,  took  the  guinea,  gave  up  his  boots,  and, 
putting  on  the  old  ones  of  the  officer,  again 
mounted  his  steed. 

At  length  we  reached  Boston,  and  our  troops 
were  quartered  in  barracks,  on  Winter-Hill.  We 
were  billeted  on  a  peasant,  whose  whole  house 
contained  but  one  room.  Our  maid-servants  slept 
on  the  floor,  and  our  male  servants  in  the  entrance. 
We  laid  straw  under  our  mattresses,  as  we  had  no 
other  bed-furniture  with  us.  The  peasant  was  a 
good  natured  man,  but  his  wife  took  the  meanest 
revenge  for  the  trouble  we  gave  her.  We  were 
obliged,  however,  to  bear  every  thing,  for  fear  that 
they  might  otherwise  thrust  us  out  of  the  house. 

One  day,  our  officers  celebrated,  in  that  un- 
seemly place,  the  birth-day,  I  believe,  of  the 
queen,  and  drank  freely.  My  two  eldest  girls, 
who  observed,  that  the  wine  which  remained,  had 
been  put  behind  the  staircase,  went  to  imitate  the 


Hhr^ 


t  ^***  r-^% 


■~l**ri.i»ii,'ift;''-^' 


r.i.-.'t«ri-v?!*r'« 


■v~":  - 


im 


(>xainple  which  the  gentlemen  had  net  them. 
They  seated  themselves  before  the  gate,  and  drank 
so  many  toasts,  that  they  grew  tipsy ;  in  consequence 
of  which,  Frederica  had  a  fever,  accompanied  with 
convulsions  :  my  alarm  was  the  greater,  because  I 
did  not  know  what  had  been  the  cause.  At  last,  1 
discovered  it;  and,  of  course,  chid  the  girls  severely, 
who  replied,  that  they  also  loved  the  king  and  the 
queen,  and  could  not  forbear  drinking  their  health. 

We  passed  three  weeks  in  this  place ;  and  were 
then  transferred  to  Cambridge,  where  we  were 
lodged  in  one  of  the  best  houses  of  the  place, 
which  belonged  to  Royalists.  Seven  families, 
who  were  connected  by  relationship,  or  lived  in 
great  intimacy,  had  here  farms,  gardens,  and 
splendid  mansions,  and  not  far  off  orchards  ;  and 
the  buildings  were  at  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant 
from  each  other.  The  owners  had  been  m  the 
habit  of  assembling  every  afternoon  in  one  or  an- 
other of  these  houses,  and  of  diverting  themselves 
with  music  or  dancing,  and  lived  in  affluence,  in 
good  humour,  and  without  care,  until  this  unfor- 
tunate war  at  once  dispersed .  them,  and  trans- 
formed all  those  houses  into  solitary  abodes,  ex- 
cept two,  the  proprietors  of  which  were,  also, 
soon  obliged  to  make  their  escape. 

None  of  our  officers  were  permitted  to  enter 
Boston.     Desirous  of  seeing  the  daughter  of  ge- 


.*" 


■;*■ 


''^¥ 


''•^m-v- 


^^ 


,.V...--^^tt.:'4'^ 


<«»«i8E::.r 


"'"^•^ 


190 


neral  Schuyler,  Mrs.  Carter,  1  went  to  town,  ami 
saw  her,  and  dined  witli  her  several  times.  Bos- 
ton is  quite  a  fine  city,  but  the  inhabitants  were 
outrageously  patriotic.  There  were  among  them 
many  Wicked  people;  and  the  persons  of  my  own 
sex  were  the  worst :  they  gazed  at  me  with  indig- 
nation, and  spit  when  I  passed  near  them.  •  Mrs. 
Carter  resembled  her  parents  in  mildness  and 
goodness  of  heart )  but  her  husband  was  revenge- 
ful and  false.  They  came  often  to  see  us,  and 
dined  with  us,  and  in  company  of  our  generals. 
We  endeavoured,  by  all  means,  to  show  them  our 
gratitude  ;  and  they  seemed  to  feel  much  firiend- 
Bhip  for  us ;  though,  at  the  same  time,  thw  wicked 
Mr.  Carter,  in  consequence  of  genertl  Howe's 
having  burnt  several  villages  and  small  towns, 
suggested  to  his  countrymen  to  cut  off  our  gene- 
rals' heads,  to  pickle  them,  and  -to  put  them  in 
small  barrels ;  and  as  often  as  the  English  should 
again  burn  a  village,  to  send  them  one  these  bar- 
rels ; — but  that  cruel  plan  was  not  adopted. 

I  had,  during  my  residence  at  Bristol,  in  Eng- 
land, made  the  acquaintance  of  a  captain  Fenton, 
whom  the  Americans  claimed  at  the  beginning  ol 
the'  war,  but  who  remained  faithful  to  his  sove- 
reign, and  refused  to  go  to  America.  Upon  this 
the  infuriated  rabble  seized  his  wife,  who  was  a 
most  respectable  woman,  and  a  daughter  of  the 


«»> 


%: 


Ki 


^H!gf»r-^ 


-i  ._*  l-6j»llt,:*»-i 


197 


age  of  fifteen,  who  was  very  beautiful,  and  8trii>- 
|)cd  them  both  of  their  dresses,  without  regard  to 
their  moral  worth,  their  beauty,  and  their  delica- 
cy; and  after  having  besmeared  them  with  tar, 
and  covered  them  with  feathers,  drove  them 
through  the  city.  What  had  one  not  to  fear 
from  people  maddened  to  that  degree  of  hatred ! 
I  heard,  also,  of  two  brothers,  who  had  been 
extremery  attached  to  each  other,  but  who  took 
different  sides  in  regard  to  the  political  affairs  of 
the  country.  The  one,  who  had  embraced  the 
royal  cause,  asked  permission  to  pay  a  visit  to  his 
brother,  and  having  obtained  it,  went  to  see  him. 
He  was  received  with  great  demonstrations  of 
joy.  '*How  happy  I  am  to  sc  ;  you  return  to  the 
good  cause,"  cried  the  republican.  "No,  my 
brother,"  rejoined  the  royalist,  "  I  remain  faithful 
to  my  king ;  but  this  shall  never  prevent  me  from 
loving  you."  Upon  this,  the  republican  rose  with 
fury,  seized  a  pistol,  and  threatened  to  kill  him,  if 
he  did  not  instantly  depart*  His  brother's  re- 
peated protestations,  that  their  different  senti- 
m'ents  in  politics  should  never  alter  his  attachment 
to  him,  were  in  vain.  The  other  cried,  "Nothing 
but  the  love  which  I  bear  you  prevents  me  from 
killing  you  instantly ;  every  royalist  is  my  enemy :" 
and  he  would  have  killed  him,  if  the  other  had 
not  retired.     Few  families  lived  in  good  harmony ; 

17* 


«  *.. 


.% 


^ 


*-^- 


■*  :h'...:.. 


if^^'^^'>^-<'^^, 


t, .« 


'^■j-^r 


*•• 


iN?'-"' 


4i 


■ly^ 


■»v> 


198 


%| 


and  I  saw  here  practically  demonstrated,  Ih^t  no- 
thing is  more  dreadful  than  a  civil  war.  We  had, 
no  other  alternative  but  to  live  with  auch  people, 
or  in  perfect  solitude.  I  preferred,  oC  co'^rse, 
the  latter.  "^  *  "        : 

"^  General  Phillips  remained  unto  the  last  a  good 
and  sincere  friend  of  ours,  and  visited  us  fre- 
quently. Our  house  was  always  full  of  English 
gentlemen,  from  the  moment  we  had  been  in- 
formed, that  we  were  expected,  in  courtesy,  to 
ask  them  to  come  again :  previously  we  had  some- 
times been  at  a  loss  to  conceive  why  some  of 
them,  whose  society  was  very  agreeable,  and 
whom  we  had  received  with  civility,  had  not  re- 
turi\ed  to  see  us.  We  found  this  usage  quite 
convenient  for  an  intercourse  with  those  persons 
with  whom  we  were  the  best  pleased.  There 
were,  however,  some  who  were  not  so  nice  in 
regard  to  this  rule,  but  favoured  us  with  their  vi- 
sits rather  more  frequently  than  we  desired. 

I  saw,  in  Cambridge,  a  whole  house  transported 
on  some  large  logs,  provided  with  small  wheels. 
'^k^i^On  the  3d  of  June,  1778, 1  gave  a  ball  and  sup- 
'per,  in  celebration  of  my  husband's  birth-day.  I 
had  invited  all  our  generals  and  officers,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carter.  General  Burgoyne  sent  an 
apology,  after  he  had  made  us  wait  for  him  till  8 
o'clock.     He  had  always  some  excuse  for  not  vi- 


*%. 


4 


^ 


,S- 


,;i^*.i,.i,i/.   .-V'..:' 


'■-S'    ,:ii'-"'-'iMi 


'*%*"" 


r 


J 


199 


4 


siting  us,  until  he  was  about  departing  for  Eng- 
land, when  he  came  and  niade  me  man3r'apolo' 
gies ;  to  wjbich  I  made  i^  other  reply,,  than  that  I 
should  be  extremely  sorry,  if  he  had  put  himself  to 
any  inconvenience  for  our  sake.  The  dance  last- 
ed long,  and  we  had  an  excellent  supper,  to  iv2lich 
more  than  eighty  persons  sat  down.  Our  yard 
and  garden  were  illuminated^  The  king's  birth- 
day falling  on  the  next  day,  it  was  resolved  that 
the  company  should  not  separate  before  his  ma- 
jesty's health  was  drank;  which  was  done  with 
feelings  of  the  liveliest  attachment  to  his  person 
and  to  his  interests.  Never,  I  believe,  was  "  God 
save  the  king"  sung  with  more  enthusiasm  or  with 
ieelings  more  sincere.  Our  two  eldest  girls  were 
brought  into  the  room  to  see  the  illumination. 
We  were  all  deeply  moved,  and  proud  to  have  the 
courage  to  display  such  sentiments  in  the  midst  of 
our  enemies.  Even  Mr.  Carter  could  not  forbear 
participating  in  our  enthusiasm.  When  our  guests 
retired,  the  house  was  surrounded  with  people, 
who  struck  with  the  many  persons  that  succes- 
sively entered  the  house,  and  with  the  illuofima* 
lion,  began  to  suspect  that  we  had  planned  a  con- 
spiracy, and  the  least  disturbance  would  have  .cost 
us  our  lives.  When  the  Americans  wish  to  call 
their  troops  together,  they  light  torches  on  some 
surrounding  heights :  and  that  telegraphic  order 


^. 


.% 


i> 


♦#*■ 


A- 


'■  l*^- 


ft 


I 


\   \ 


'*•'-; 
*» 


200 


IS  strictly  obeyed.  We  were  vvitix<5i^ses  of  »  on 
the  occasion  when  general  Howe  Ittemp*  .  to 
rescue  the  troops  detained  in  Boston.  The  iiiha- 
bitants  were,  as  usual,  informed  long  before-hand 
of  thai  plan,  and  immediately  planted  theii 
torches,  whereupon  a  crowd  of  people,  without 
either  shoes  or  stockings,  and  their  rifles  on  their 
shoulders,  flocked  together ;  and  it  would,  there- 
fore, have  been  extremely  diflicult  to  effect  the 
landing.  **       . 

We  passed  our  time  at  Cambridge  quietly  and 
happily,  and  should  have  been  glad  to  have  re- 
mained in  that  place,  as  long  as  our  troops  were 
to  continue  in  captivity;  but,  towards  the  ap- 
proach of  the  winter,  we  received  orders  to  set  out 
for  Virginia.  On  that  occasion,  it  became  incum- 
bent on  me  to  devise  new  means  of  preserving 
the  colours  of  the  German  regiments,  which  we 
had  made  the  Americans  believe  we  had  burned. 
They  did  not  seem  to  take  this  well,  though  they 
did  not  say  much  about  it  afterwards.  We  had, 
however,  only  sacrificed  the  staves,  and  the  co- 
lours had  been  carefully  concealed.  My  husband 
having  told  me  this  secret,  while  we  were  pre- 
paring for  our  journey,  and  desired  me  to  takr 
care  of  them,  I  shut  myself  up  in  my  room  with 
an  honest  tailor,  to  make  a  mattress,  into  whicli 
we  introduced  them.     Captain  O'Connel,  under 


v 


V* 


<•  -f 


201 


pretence  of  ilttoie  commission,  was  sent  to  New- 
York,  and  he  took  the  mattress  in  lieu  of  a  bed ; 
and  he  did  not  part  with  it  until  his  arrival  at 
Halifax.  There  I  received  it  again,  while  we 
were  on  our  voyage  from  New- York  to  Canada, 
and,  in  order  to  avoid  all  suspicion,  if  our  ship 
should  be  attacked,  I  kept  it  in  my  cabin,  and 
slept,  during  all  the  rest  of  our  passage,  upon 
these  honourable  badges. 

While  making  the  preparations  for  our  journey, 
I  discovered  that  our  cook,  whose  expenses  I 
paid^very  day,  and  whose  vouchers  I  happily  had 
kept,  had  paid  nobody,  and  bills  to  the  amount  of 
a  thousand  dollars,  were  presented  to  me  for  pay- 
ment. My  husband  had  the  cook  arrested ;  but 
he  escaped,  and  went  into  general  Gates'  service, 
who  found,  however,  that  he  was  too  expensive, 
whereupon  he  engaged  with  general  Lafayette, 
who,  long  afterwards,  told  us,  "that  he  was  a 
cook  only  fit  for  kings."  My  husband  liked  him 
for  his  skill  in  the  mysteries  of  the  kitchen ;  but 
the  rogue  never  liked  me,  for  he  saw  well  that  I 
watched  him  close.  I  never  doubted  that  he  had 
been  a  partner  in  the  robbery  of  our  baggage  at 
Albany.  When  we  met  him  in  New-York,  he 
was  in  a  state  of  abject  wretchedness. 

My  husband  complained  often  of  the  disordered 
state  of  his  nerves,  and  of  drowsiness.    His  only 


4^ 


(    vi 


•  i 


,  1^ 


I 


w'lj*^.^'* •»■;!.  I  *»ly<m»»#"    tlll>ii»«>  »ii<i  iMii>.li«»i» 


■'■■^..l. 


i 


P    ■ 


.# 


V, 


amusement  was  to  m^A  in  the  garden,  and  to 
walk  about,  and  for  that  reason  I  took  care,  as 
often  as  we  removed  to  some  new  quarters,  to  ar- 
range a  little  garden  for  him,  which  I  always 
found  means  to  provide  for,  without  much  ex- 
pense, as  almost  all  our  soldiers  understood  more 
or  less  of  gardening,  and  were  eager  to  gain  some 
little  money.  I  was  now,  more  than  ever,  glad 
that  I  had  followed  my  husband  to  America.  The 
sorrows  of  captivity,  the  painful  situation  of  our 
troops,  and  the  deprivation  of  news  from  home, 
distressed  him  extremely:  but  how  much  jiiore 
would  he  have  suffered,  if  nobody  had  been  with 
him  to  dispel  his  melancholy,  while  six  months, 
and  longer  intervals,  passed  sometimes  without 
receiving  any  letters  !  How  much  do  I  rejoice, 
even  now,  as  my  recollections  carry  me  back  to 
the  time,  when  I  stoutly  resisted  all  those  who  en- 
deavoured to  prevent  me  from  fulfilling  my  duties/ 
and  following  the  dictates  of  the  tenderest  at- 
tachment, or  to  that  when  I  faithfully  shared  his 
cares  and  sufferings ! 

We  received  the  order  to  depart  for  Virginia,  iu 
the  month  of  November,  1778.  My  husband 
bought  for  me  an  elegant  English  coach,  that  I 
might  travel  more  conveniently.  My  little  Gus- 
tava  had  requested  one  of  my  husband's  aids-de- 
camp, captain  Edmonstone,  not  to  leave  us.    He 


H 


t 


f  t  ,f*^i.Sk  w^.^^^4, 


■^♦^lfca*ifcA.«.*--w-t#*'***J* 


^h»a,i*'*fy;''*'^'y*'Wi'»^  **;»■.  .■*'<;>i^'^'*  '■" — * 


203 


seemed  much  affected  wftil  that  innocent  display 
of  confidence  and  attachment :  he  promised  to  do 
as  she  wished,  and  was  as  good  as  his  word.  I 
journeyed  always  with  the  troops,  and  sometimes 
over  roads  that  were  almost  impassable.  The 
captain,  who  rode  on  horseback  close  to  ou^  car- 
riage, and  who  was  very  strong,  was  often  obliged 
to  alight,  and  hold  up  our  vehicle.  Our  old 
chasseur,  Rockel,  who  accompanied  me,  a,nd  to 
whom  such  an  assistance  was  very  welcome,  being 
himself  worn  out  with  fatigue,  often  remained 
quietly  on  his  seat,  and  cried  only  for  the  cap- 
tain's help  -f  a  call  which  never  remained  unan- 
swered. I  upbraided  Rockel  constantly  for  ta- 
king such  liberties ;  but  captain  Edmonstone  took 
it  all  with  good  nature,  and  begged  me  not  to 
chide  the  poor  old  man. 

We  had  always  provisions  in  our  baggage-wag- 
gon ;  but  as  this  moved  more  slowly  than  our- 
selves, we  were  often  without  food.  Every  fourth 
day  we  made  a  halt,  and  being  detained  in  that 
way,  at  a  place  called  Hartford,  we  met  with  ge- 
neral Lafayette,  and  my  husband  invjted  him  to  din- 
ner, because  he  would  otherwise  have  been  much 
embarrassed  to  find  it  elsewhere.  This  perplexed 
me  not  a  little ;  for  I  knew  that  the  general  was  fond 
of  a  good  dinner.  At  last,  however,  I  found 
means  to  have  my  provisions  prepared  in  such  a 


^f. 


)       n 


1. 


•  *'-  *-■ 


>9^ 


*\ 


\( 


;»*. 


» 


204 

way,  as  to  answer  his  expectations.  He  was  so 
civil  and  affable,  that  we  became  all  much  pleased 
with  him.  He  had  many  Americans  in  his  suit, 
who  did  not  seefH  liluch  pleased  to  hear  us  speak 
French.  It  may  be  that  they  feared,  on  seeing  us 
on  such  friendly  terms  with  him,  that  we  might  at- 
tempt to  dissuade  him  from  their  cause,  or  that  he 
might  tell  us  what  they  did  not  wish  we  should 
know.  I  could  not  forbear  asking  him,  how  he 
could  find  it  in  his  heart  to  accept  so  many  dis- 
tinctions from  the  king,  on  the  eve  of  his  departure 
for  America,  and  then  fight  against  his  troops. 
He  seemed  at  first  somewhat  embarrassed,  but 
soon  replied,  "  Indeed,  such  scruples  were  not  far 
from  my  mind :  and  one  day  when  the  king  offer- 
ed to  cause  his  fleets  to  be  shown  me,  I  answered, 
that  I  expected  to  see  them  on  some  future  day. 
I  retired  directly,  to  avoid  the  awkwardness  of  my 
situation,  should  I  be  obliged  to  refuse  anew  such 
a  gracious  offer."  Some  persons,  nevertheless, 
suspected  him  of  having  been  a  spy  in  England, 
whence  he  departed  for  America. 

We  reached  one  day  a  pretty  little  town  ;  but 
our  waggon  remaining  behind,  we  were  very  hun- 
gry. Seeing  much  fresh  meat  in  the  house  where 
we  stopped,  I  begged  the  landlady  to  sell  me 
some.  "I  have,"  quoth  she,  "several  sorts  of 
meat:  beef,  mutton  and  lamb."    Enraptured  with 


» 1«..4^wr^6.*fc  4MI1  tk 


--».-*.* Au«i»ft 


■_,j^i^-~-"'~.Mf-,..„^,^^  . 


*.*.' 


205 


this  answer,  I  told  her,  "Let  me  have  some,  I  will 
pay  you  liberally."  But,  snapping  her  fingers,  she 
replied,  "  You  shall  not  have  n  morsel  of  it :  why 
have  you  left  your  country  to  |la^  us  and  /ob  us  of 
our  property?  now  that  you  are  our  prisoners,  it  is 
our  turn  to  vex  you."  "But,**  rejoined  I,  "see 
these  poor  children ;  they  are  dying  of  hunger." 
She  remained  still  unmoved;  but,  when  at  length 
my  youngest  child,  Caroline,  who  was  then  about 
two  years  and  a  half  old,  went  to  her,  seized  her 
hands,  and  told  her  in  English,  "  Good  woman,  I 
am  indeed  very  hungry,"  she  could  no  longer  re- 
sist, and  carrying  the  child  to  her  room,  she  gave 
her  an  egg."  "  But,"  replied  the  dear  little  one, 
"I  have  two  sisters."  Deeply  affected  by  that 
remark,  the  hostess  gave  her  three  eggs,  saying, 
"I  am  loth  to  be  so  weak,  but  I  cannot  refuse  the 
child."  By-and-by,  she  softened,  and  offered  me 
bread  and  butter.  I  made  tea,  and  the  hostess 
looked  at  our  tea-pot  with  a  longing  eye,  for  the 
Americans  are  very  fond  of  that  beverage;  yet 
they  had  stoutly  resolved  not  to  drink  any  more, 
the  tax  on  tea,  as  is  well  known,  having  been 
the  immediate  cause  of  the  contest  with  Great 
Britain.  I  offered  her,  however,  a  cup,  and  pre- 
sented her  with  a  paper  case  full  of  tea.  This 
drove  away  all  clouds  between  us;  she  begged 
me  to  go  with  her  into  the  kitchen,  and  there  1 

18 


^i^ 


.m 


* 


*■ 


...i 


*mf' 


1^ 


•^' 


'^'' •^- 


1 


y^ 


#• 


u 


) 


1* 


■■^, 


206  • 

found  her  husband  eating  a  piece  of  pork.  Tlie 
woman  went  into  the  cellar  to  bring  me  a  basket 
of  potatoes.  When  she  returned  into  the  kitchen, 
the  husband  offered  her  some  of  his  dainty  food; 
she  tasted  it,  and  returned  to  him  what  remained. 
I  was  disagreeably  struck  with  this  partnership 
and  common  enjoyment;  but  the  man  probably 
thought  I  was  envious  of  it,  on  account  ol 
the  hunger  I  had  manifesi«d,  and  presented  mc 
with  the  little  which  both  had  left.  What  could  I 
do.''  I  feared,  that  by  refusing,  I  should  offend  them, 
and  lose  the  potatoes.  I  accepted,  therefore,  the 
morsel,  and  having  kept  up  the  appearance  as 
if  I  eat  it,  I  threw  it  secretly  into  the  fire.  Wo 
were  now  in  perfect  amity ;  with  the  potatoes  and 
some  butter,  I  made  a  good  supper,  and  we  had  to 
ourselves  three  neat  rooms,  with  very  good  beds. 
We  continued  our  journey  the  next  morning, 
and  excited  the  curiosity  of  the  inhabitants.  Ha- 
ving reached  the  bank  of  the  Hudson,  we  were 
lodged  in  a  skipper's  house,  where  we,  with  mucli 
difficulty,  obtained  a  half-finished  room  without 
windows;  so  that  we  were  obliged  to  hang  blan- 
kets before  the  openings,  and  io  sleep  upon  straw. 
In  consequence  of  an  accident  which  happened  to 
our  waggon,  we  had  neither  our  mattresses,  nor 
coffee,  tea  and  sugar,  which  were  of  great  service 
^o  us,  during  our  journey.  Our  hostess,  who  was  ii 


,^ 


'■>     t. 


^ 


'' -^ ■%.'.  ■A-"  ^■■^._&^:  ii,.^   '.*.«.  A- ,;.-■{"  ^  ,»■. 


20: 


Tlic 
basket 
itchen, 
y  food; 
nained. 
nership 
robably 
mnt    ol" 
ited  me 
could  I 
id  them, 
ore,  the 
ance  as 
e.     Wo 
toes  and 
e  had  to 
)d  beds, 
norning, 
ts.     Ha- 
ve were 
ith  much 
without 
ng  blan- 
)n  straw, 
pened  to 
s.ses,  nor 
t  service 
ho  was  ii 


real  termagant,  permitted  us  at  last,  on  the  follow- 
ing morning,  when  our  baggage  had  arrived,  to 
breakfast  in  her  room,  as  it  was  now  the  month  of 
December,  and  we  could  not  have  a  fire  in  the 
room  where  we  had  passed  the  night.  But  we 
could  not  obtain  a  table  to  ourselves,  and  we  were 
not  allowed  to  sit  at  hers,  before  she  and  her  chil- 
dren and  servants  had  finished  their  meal,  which 
consisted  of  remnants  of  the  preceding  evening's 
repast,  of  cabbage,  ham,  and  other  things  of  that 
sort,  and  coffee  with  brown  sugar.  They  left  us 
then  the  dirty  table,  in  all  the  disordei"  of  a  finish- 
ed breakfast.  They  requested  us,  nevertheless,  to 
put  all  things  to  rights,  after  we  had  finished  ours. 
And  when  we  ventured  the  least  remark,  they 
gave  us  directly  to  understand,  that  we  had  better 
be  off".  The  woman  behaved  in  this  way  only  for 
revenge,  as  she  was  a  stanch  republican.  Un- 
luckily, the  weather  was  stormy,  and  the  wind 
ahead,  so  that  it  was  dangerous  to  cross  the  river, 
as  the  boatman  himself  informed  us.  The  shrew 
insisted,  notwithstanding,  on  our  departure,  and 
all  we  could  obtain  from  her,  after  many  entrea- 
ties, was,  that  we  might  remain  two  days  longer. 
On  the  third  day,  her  husband  came  to  tell  us, 
with  a  perplexed  mien,  that  it  was  time  to  depart. 
I  begged  him  to  consider  the  danger  we  were 
exposed  to,  and  that  he  would  accompany  us  af* 


;i««> 


"Sfr 


I!  »  ■♦"■•  *.-*>^ 


208 


■» 


^ 


'%! 


least,  as  I  should  then  be  less  afraid  to  embark. 
He  promised  to  go  with  us;  and  we  went  on  board 
a  small  boat,  carrying  one  mast  only;  but  in  the 
same  instant  that  he  shoved  it  off,  he  jamped 
ashore,  and  left  us  alone  with  one  sailor  Qiily>  who 
was  but  an  indifferent  steersman,  so  that,  what 
with  his  ignorance,  and  what  with  the  contrary 
wind,  we  were   tacking  to  and    fro    for  more 

^  than  five  hours,  until  we  at  last  reached  the 
opposite  shore,  after  much  fear  and  anxiety.  We 
were  then  obliged  to  wade  through  mire,  before 
we  arrived  at  the  house  of  colonel  Osborn,  a  rich 
gentleman,  where  we  were  to  lodge.  We  had 
two  rooms,  which  were  rather  small,  but  neat,  for 
me,  my  husband,  my  children,  and  my  two  maid- 
servants, and  at  dinner  and  supper,  the  general's 
aids-de-camp.  These  latter  wished,  to  warm 
iheniselves  in  the  kitchen.  But  our  host  soon 
followed  them,  and,  taking  them  by  their  arms, 
said  to  them,  "  Is  it  not  enough  that  I  give  you 
shelter,  ye  wretched  royalists?"  He  had  jiist  re- 
turned from  his  fields,  and  frightened  us  by  his 
coarse  dress  and  his  long  beard.  But  his  wife 
was  more  amiable.  On  the  following  day,  which 
was  Sunday,  she  invited  me  to  drink  coffee  with 
her,  afler  our  dinner.  Scarcely  had  I  taken  a  seat, 
when  her  husband,  who  now  looked  much  more 

"  deol^t,  entered.     Deeply  impressed  yet  with  the 


.#•' 


^tf 


i"* 


209 


scene  of  the  preceding  evening,  I  rose,  and  wuh 
about  to  retire  ;  but  he  shut  the  door,  and  asked 
me,  "Are  you  afraid  of  me?" — "No,  sir,"  cried  I, 
"I  fear  nobody,  not  even  a  figure  as  ugly  a«  you 
were  yesterday." — "Do  I  not  look  better  to-day?" 
— "  Yes,  sir ;  but  I  wish  to  avoid  new  incivilities." 
Instead  of  waxing  wroth,  he  softened ;  and  taking 
me  by  the  hand,  he  begged  me  to  sit  down  again, 
next  to  his  wife.  "I  am  not  so  .rude  as  you  ima- 
gine," said  he,  "I  like  you,  and  if  I  were  not 
married,  T  cannot  tell  but  I  might  fall  in  love  with 
you." — "Do  you  believe  that  I  would  encourage 
your  affection?" — "  As  for  that,  we  should  see:  I 
am  very  rich ;  this  whole  estate  is  mine ;  my  wife, 
you  see,  is  old:  you  will  do  well,  therefore,  to  re- 
main here."  From  that  hour,  my  host  would  have 
given  me  all  that  I  asked  for;  and  the  good  host- 
ess seemed  quite  glad  to  share  with  me  all  that 
lier  household  could  alVord. 

We  remained  here  a  week,  the  passage  of  our 
troops  across  the  river  suffering  much  delay,  on 
accoimt  of  the  scarcity  of  boats.  On  the  third 
day  after  our  departure,  we  stopped  at  the  house 
of  a  German,  who  gave  us  good  lodgings  and 
good  fare.  Our  host,  who  was  very  old,  happened 
to  be  the  son  of  one  of  count  Gortz's  coachmen. 
His  father  having  punished  him  one  day  for  some 
youthful    slip,    he    determined    upon    deserting 

19*  •      '-^ 


'  i 


(ii 


* 


tm,"" 


w- 


r.4fejr.''%» 


T^'f^iJiim^''"'  .'^^i^^   -, 


\  \ 


210 


%•  t 


I    .!, 


ills  home,  and  went  without  much  premedita- 
tion to  England ;  wence  he  was  sent  to  America, 
with  a  number  of  people,  who  were  drawn  to  set- 
tle in  the  colonies.  It  was  his  good  fortune  to  fall 
into  the  hands  ol'  a  generous  master,  who  took 
him  in  kindness,  put  him  to  school,  and  afler  ha- 
ving kept  him  among  his  menials  for  some  y^arn, 
he  gave  him  a  small  tract  of  land  to  manage  and 
live  upon,  agreeably  to  ♦ho  '-u-.tom  which  then 
existed  in  this  country  .n  i»  au  i  i.o  such  servants. 
Being  industrious  nnd  fu'tivf  he  soon  found  means 
to  procure  a  lease  W'^m  his  master,  who,  observing 
how  every  thing  prospered  by  his  diligence,  married 
him  at  last  to  his  daughter.  He  had  now  several 
sons,  who  were,  also,  farmers ;  and  the  only  thing 
that  disturbed  his  happiness,  was  the  self-reproach 
of  having  deserted  his  home :  but  he  often  made 
remittances  to  his  father.  As  he  knew  that  my 
husband's  family  lived  in  the  neighhourhood  ol 
count  Gortz,  and  in  great  intimacy  with  him,  he 
felt  happy  to  have  us  under  his  roof,  and  sincere- 
ly regretted  our  departure.  .^^^  • 

We  slept,  at  another  time,  in  the  house  of  one 
colonel  Howe,  to  whom  I  meant  to  pay  a  compli- 
ment, by  asking  him  if  he  was  a  relative  of  the 
general  of  that  name.  "  God  forbid,"  replied  he 
in  gr'^at  anger,  "he  is  not  worthy  of  that  honour." 
'ili;!  o  >iinel  wa«<  c  man  ^f  a  very  fair  reputation; 
iiKi  yftat  in  husoandry,  the  time  which  he  was 


■f-'*" *J'J'*'^W»».^»rt"»-f  .;»..■•'<«  >M"T"t<R'!i>?Jft.' 


>Si>*i» 


i^l 


It 


211 


not  obliged  to  devote  to  the  military  service.  Ilr 
had  a  daughter,  who  was  about  fourt»^»'n  years  old, 
md  quiU;  pretty,  but  very  ill-natured.  Sitting 
with  her  near  the  fire-side,  she  Hatd,  on  a  sudden, 
staring  at  the  blaze,  "  Oh !  if  I  had  here  the  king 
of  England,  with  hc»v\  much  pleasure  I  could  roast 
and  eat  him  !"  I  lookeii  at  her  with  indignation, 
and  told  her,  "  I  am  almost  ashamed  to  behu^  to 
a  sex,  which  is  capable  .)f  indulging  such  ta  - 
cies."  I  shall  never  forget  that  detestable  girl  . 
and  I  was  impatient  to  leave  her,  though  wt  had 
very  good  accommodations. 

Before  we  passed  the  Blue  Hills,  we  made  n- 
other  halt  of  eight  days,  tor  the  sake  of  the  soldiers. 
In  the  mean  time,  it  ha<'  snowed  so  much,  that  we 
were  obliged  to  have  four  men  on  horseback,  bt 
fore  our  carriage,  to  clej«r  the  road.  We  pas^e* 
through  a  picturesque  ct/untry,  but  of  so  wild  a 
character,  that  it  left  awful  impressions.  The 
travelling  was  dangerous,  the  roads  being  almost 
impassable ;  and  we  suffered  besides  wot  onlj 
from  cold,  but  from  want.  After  our  arrival  in 
Virginia,  and  when  we  wer<  a  day's  journey  dis- 
tant from  the  place  of  our  destination,  we  had,  for 
our  last  meal,  tea,  and  a  piet  e  of  bread  and  but- 
ter fo^  each.  This  was  the  end  of  our  little 
stock,  and  we  could  here  procu  "-e  nothing,  either  for 
our  present  or  future  wants,  except  some  fruits, 


■.-^, 


E-?*^ 


-"•f?  :':■':■  ;i  :-|'^^:^ 


.« 


212 


r 

I 


•  .. .  \ 


which  a  peasant  gave  us  for  our  journey.  At 
noon,  we  reached  a  house,  where  we  begged  for 
some  dinner;  but  all  assistance  was  denied  us, 
with  many  imprecations  against  the  royalists. 
Seeing  some  maize,  I  begged  our  hostess  to  give 
me  some  of  it,  to  make  a  little  bread.  She  re- 
plied, "  That  she  needed  it  for  her  black  people : 
they  work  for  us,"  she  added,  "  and  you  come  to 
kill  us."  Captain  Edmonstone  offered  to  pay  her 
one  or  two  guineas  for  a  little  wheat.  But  sh( 
returned,  "  You  shall  not  have  it  even  for  hun- 
dreds of  guineas  ;  and  it  will  be  so  much  the  bet- 
ter if  you  all  die."  The  captain  became  so  en- 
raged at  these  words,  that  he  was  about  to  tak( 
the  maize ;  but  I  prevented  him  from  doing  it. 
thinking  that  we  should  soon  meet  with  more  cha- 
ritable people.  But  in  this  I  was  much  mistaken, 
for  we  did  not  see  even  a  solitary  hut.  The  road^ 
were  execrable,  and  the  horses  could  hardly 
move.  My  children,  starving  from  hunger,  grew 
pale,  and  for  the  first  time  lost  tiieir  spirits.  Cap- 
tain Edmonstone,  deeply  affected  at  this,  wen! 
ubout  asking  something  for  the  children,  and  re- 
ceived, at  last,  from  one  of  the  waggoners  who 
transported  our  baggage,  a  piece  of  stale  bread. 
t>f  three  ounces  weight,  upon  which  many  a  tootli 
had  already  exercised  its  strength.  Yet  to  my 
« liildrcn,  it   was,  at  this  time,  a  delicious  morsf^l. 


^jRlB&ibfi^a. 


-?■, 


.'^»^^fcr»-n»w^'.iWfn,  ? 


'H-fi.-- 


'","'' ^.y^- 


....■,,|,, 


213 


1  broke  it  into  pieces,  and  was  about  giving  the 
first  piece  to  the  youngest ;  but  she  said,  "  No, 
mama ;  my  sisters  are  more  in  want  of  it  than  1 
am."  The  two  eldest  girls,  with  jio  less  genero- 
sity, thought  that  little  Caroline  was  to  have  the 
first  piece.  I  then  endeavoured  to  distribute  to 
each  her  small  portion.  Tears  ran  down  my 
cheeks,^nd  had  I  ever  refused  to  the  poor  a  piece 
of  bread,  I  should  have  thought  that  retributive 
justice  had  overtaken  me  now.  Captain  Edmon- 
stone,  who  was  much  affected,  presented  the  gene- 
rous waggoner  who  had  given  us  his  last  morsel, 
with  a  guinea,  and  when  we  were  arrived  at  our 
place  of  destination,  we  provided  him,  besides, 
with  bread  for  a  part  of  his  journey  homeward. 

The  place  of  our  destination  was  Colle,  in  Vir- 
ginia, where  my  husband,  who  had  advanced  with 
the  troops,  already  expected  us  with  impatience 
and  anxiety.  This  was  about  the  middle  of  Fe- 
bruary, 1779.  We  had  passed,  in  our  journey, 
through  the  provinces  of  Connecticut,  New-York, 
New-Jersey,  Pennsylvania,  and  Maryland ;  and 
had  travelled,  in  about  three  months,  six  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  miles.  The  house  where  we 
lodged,  and,  indeed,  the  whole  estate,  belonged 
to  an  Italian,*  who  hired  it  to  us,  as  he  was  about 


Probably  Mr.  Mazzci, 


-i«j^ji«»"  •"••■> 


♦,■♦ 


i  .. 


f 


^ 


214 

setting  out  upon  a  voyage.  We  looked  impatient- 
ly forward  to  the  time  of  his  departure,  and  that 
of  his  wife  and  daughter,  on  account  of  the  small- 
ness  of  tlie  house,  and  the  scarcity  of  provisions. 
In  respect  to  the  latter,  our  landlord  voluntarily 
assumed  a  kind  of  tutorship  over  us.  Thus,  when 
he  killed  a  calf,  he  gave  us,  on  the  first  day,  only 
tlie  head  and  the  tripe,  though  we  represented 
that  this  was  not  enough  for  twenty  persons.  He 
,  replied,  that  we  could  make  a  very  good  soup  of 
it.  He  then  added  to  the  meat  two  cabbages,  and 
some  stale  ham ;  and  this  wa.s  all  we  could  obtain 
from  him.  - 

In  the  expectation  that  the  troops  would  have 
arrived  sooner,  a  great  number  of  horned  cattlo 
and  swine  liad  been  sent  to  the  butcher ;  and  salt 
being  very  scarce  here,  there  were  no  other  means 
of  preserving  it,  but  to  lay  it  under  earth,  and  to 
dress  it  over  with  ashes,  which  seem  to  have  the 
same  qualities  as  salt.  Yet,  the  weather  being 
sometimes  very  hot  hero,  even  in  the  month  of 
January,  the  meat  which  was  laying  uppermost, 
was  spoiled.  Our  rations  were  brought  to  us  on 
wheelbarrows ;  but  we  were  often  obliged  to 
throw  it  away,  or  to  salt  it  and  have  it  smoked. 
One  day,  when  we  had  scarcely  enough  for  our- 
selves, I  saw  eight  officers  suddenly  arrive,  a  lit- 
tle l)cforo  dinner.     What  could  we  do  but  shaiv 


■,V  V''---"!"^'"'- 


■^T^' 


■^«.- 


41 


*t, 


215 

with  them  the  little  we  had  1     The  troops  were 
at  Charlottesville,  three  hours'  ride  from  us,  and 
the  road  thither  ran  through  a  fine  wood.     At 
first,  they  suffered  many  privations:  they  were 
billeted    in  block-houses,  without    windows    or 
doors,  and  but  poorly  defended  Ifrom  the  cold. 
But  they  went  diligently  to  work  to  construct  bet- 
ter dwellings,  and,  in  a  short  time,  the  place  as- 
sumed the  appearance  of  a  neat  little  town.     In 
the  rear  of  each  house,  they  had  trim  gardens 
and  enclosed  places   for  poultry.      Afterwards, 
when  the   old  provisions  were  consumed,   they 
received  fresh  meat,  and  fl6ur  to  make  bread; 
and  as  this  latter  was  of  wheat,  they  could  even 
make   cakes   and   pies.     They    wanted    nothing 
but  money,  of  which  the  English  sent  but  little ; 
and  as  it  was  difficult  to  purchase  any  thing  on 
credit,  the  soldiers  were  in  many  perplexities  on 
that  account.     In  the  middle  of  February,   the 
fruit   trees,  were   already   in   blossom ;    but    the 
night  frost  killed  them.     As  soon  as  the  weather 
would  permit,  we  caused  the  garden  and  the  fields 
to  be  cultivated ;  and  as  our  landlord  left  us  within 
three  weeks  after,  we  took  into  our  care  all  thr 
poultry,  &-C.  iSoC.     We  had  turkeys  which  weigh- 
ed fifty  pounds,  and  were  perfectly  tame,  but,  on 
ihe  aj)proach  of  spring,   they  flew   off"  to   hatch 
their  esa'^ii   which  tliev  iiad  laid  in   tho  woods. 


•i.) 


n 


«        #• 


% 


"^ 


ii 


■'(»■ 


^ 


216 


We  had  already  given  them  up  for  lost,  when 
they  suddenly  returned  with  a  numerous  bro6d. 

We  had  a  large  house  built  for  us,  with  a  spa- 
cious saloon  in  the  centre,  and  with  two  rooms 
on  each  side,  which  cost  us  a  hundred  guineas, 
and  was  quite  elegant. 

The  negroes  sold  us  their  little  stock  of  poultry 
and  vegetables.  Every  week,  we  and  general 
Phillips  sent,  by  turns,  an  ox  and  two  swine  to 
the  slaughter-house.  Thus  with  respect  to  provi- 
sion we  had  nothing  to  wish  for,  but  we  suffered 
much  by  the  heat  during  the  summer :  we  lived  in 
continual  apprehension  of  rattlesnakes,  and  our 
fruit  trees  were  destroyed  by  three  sorts  of  insects. 
Sometimes,  also,  we  had  tremendous  thunder- 
storms, accompanied  with  such  winds,  that  more 
than  a  hundred  trees  were  blown  down  around  us. 
I  must  say,  however,  that  their  roots  were  scarcely 
under  ground ;  and  when  a  strong  wind  blew  away 
the  earth,  which  was  nothing  but  light  sand,  they 
remained  almost  entirely  bare.  The  woods  were, 
besides,  often  wasted  by  the  fires  of  negroes  and 
herdsmen ;  and,  indeed,  nobody  seems  here  to 
care  much  for  trees.  Whole  forests  are  some- 
times burnt  down,  to  redeem  land  for  the  purposes 
of  agriculture.  The  heat  was  so  great,  even  du- 
ring the  night,  that  we  were  obliged  to  sleep  with 
open  windows ;  but  this  brought  upon  us  another 


J*** 


y:7Tpyv-,-.  ■^,. 


1l 


217 


*w 


inconvenience.  Frequently  three  or  four  bats, 
three  times  as  large  as  those  which  are  known  in 
Germany,  would  flutter  round  our  beds,  and  we 
would  spend  half  the  night  in  driving  them  out  of 
the  room.  One  night,  the  servants  came  to  tell 
my  husband,  that  the  stable,  which  had  been  re- 
cently built,  was  in  danger  of  being  blown  down 
by  the  wind.  Every  body,  except  myself,  my 
children,  and  the  maids,  ran  immediately  to  prop 
it.  The  wind  increased,  and  large  fragments  of 
the  chimney  fell  down  into  the  room.  The  house 
tottered,  and,  through  the  remainder  of  the  night, 
{  was  apprehensive  lest  I  should  be  buried  under 
its  ruins.     We  were  often  in  such  dangers. 

We  had  no  chairs ;  in  lieu  of  which  we  made 
use  of  round  blocks  of  timber,  which  also  served 
us  for  tables,  by  the  help  of  planks.  In  this  way 
we  passed  three  or  four  months,  and  not  unhappily. 
My  husband,  however,  continued  to  be  much  de- 
pressed, partly  perhaps  because  he  could  not  bear 
such  a  high  temperature.  It  was,  indeed,  very 
oppressive  to  every  body,  for  the  thermometer 
rose  sometimes  to  a  hundred  and  three  degrees. 
We  all  endeavoured  to  buoy  up  his  spirits,  and 
u'lien  our  little  garden  began  to  be  in  such  a  state 
as  to  afford  him  some  occupation,  he  seemed  to 
to  be  less  dejected.  He  was  very  liable  to  head- 
aches, and  disliked  to  wear  his  hat  in  the  garden ; 

19 


i'^-v      . 


V> 


I 


it 


4 


^■ 


'ri 


W' 


#■ 


•       ' 


218 


and  this  was  the  cause  of  one  of  the  greatest 
shocks  to  me  that  I  had  yet  experienced.  One 
day,  while  I  was  just  engaged  in  arranging  his 
room,  I  suddenly  heard  a  great  noise.  I  ran  to 
the  window,  and  saw  some  men  bringing  my  hus- 
band homeward.  His  face  was  blue,  his  hands 
were  white,  his  eyes  staring,  and  sweat  ran  from 
his  brow,  evidently  from  a  stroke  of  the  sun.  I 
was  terrified,  and  the  children  screamed  aloud : 
happily  the  surgeon  of  the  regiment  lived  in  the 
house,  and  bled  him  immediately.  He  then  re- 
covered his  speech,  so  that  he  could  explain  the 
accident.  The  effect  of  the  "  coup  de  soleil"  was 
so  sudden,  that  he  was  scarcely  able  to  reach  the 
house,  and  he  would  have  fallen  down,  had  not 
his  aid-de-camp  just  arrived  in  time.  If  I  had 
lost  him,  what  would  have  become  of  me  and  my 
poor  little  ones,  in  the  midst  of  a  captivo  army,  in 
the  enemy's  land,  and  at  such  a  distance  from 
home  !  I  can  never  think  of  that  event  without 
terror.  When  my  husband  felt  a  little  better,  he 
took  nie  by  the  hand,  and  looked  at  me  with  deep 
emotion.  He  was  uneasy,  whenever  I  left  him. 
We  sent  for  a  physician,  and  by  using  all  possible 
care,  I  was  enabled,  through  God's  mercy,  to  pre- 
serve my  dear  husband ;  but  he  remained  feeble, 
and,  therefore,  so  much  the  more  sensible  of  his 
painful  situation ;  and  for  many  years  afterwards 


K 

■\ 

ttj 

i 

Bfi' 

'  1 

btB^H 

V^ 

V'" 

i^ 

9k^^.^ 

»-* 

A 


-t!».  V,ii^i*S-j 


.:...:.....-.%, 


€ 


%  " 


*m< 


^^- 


219 

lie  complained  of  some  pain  in  his  head.  His 
physician  and  acquaintances  advised  him  to  go  to 
a  watering-place  called  Frederic-Springs,  and  we 
went  there ;  but  I  fear  he  increased  his  disorder 
by  washing  his  head.  Seeing  that  he  could  not 
sleep  during  the  night,  I  willingly  imposed  upon 
myself  the  task  of  entertaining  him  with  some 
books,  and  I  purposely  read  in  a  drowsy  manner  : 
this  had  a  good  effect.  His  hands  and  feet  were 
purple-black,  and  cold  as  ice.  Sometimes  when 
I  fancied  I  could  retire  to  rest,  he  awoke,  as  if 
disturbed  by  anguish.  The  least  thing  provoked 
him.  One  day  a  native  entered  the  room,  and  ad- 
dressing me,  said,  he  was  curious  to  see  a  German 
lady.  This  observation  struck  me  only  for  its 
oddity ;  but  when,  with  the  intention  of  comply- 
ing with  the  wish  of  our  strange  visiter,  I  intro- 
duced him  to  my  husband,  the  idea  of  being  con- 
stantly subject,  from  his  situation,  to  the  caprices 
of  every  body,  drew  tears  from  his  eyes.  I  felt 
much  regret  for  having  been  instrumental  in  do- 
ing what  seemed  to  give  him  so  much  pain. 

At  the  springs  we  became  acquainted  with 
general  Washington's  family,  and  with  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  ***.  Mrs.  ***  was  a  very  amiable  woman, 
and,  notwithstanding  her  great  attachment  to  her 
country,  we  became  great  friends.  She  generally 
spent  the  forenoons  with  us.     She  delighted  in 


>■    ii 


,.j«..„„_rf*« ..^^•»4,j(»*«I-^sHfc*«-",*^i«*'."'-.'?  •;'•  .;•■■"l■•'•-:■•'^"■"•*■'""■~''5:r??s•r.•■ 


% 


220 


>  i-. 


our  musical  displays,  when  captain  Geimar  play- 
(id  the  violin,  and  I  sang  Italian  airs.  One  day, 
while  we  were  engaged  in  this  way,  a  peasant, 
whom  we  had  repeatedly  requested  to  furnish  us 
with  fresh  butter,  arrived,  and,  fond  of  music,  as 
all  his  countrymen  are,  he  listened  eagerly ;  when 
I  had  finished  my  song,  he  desired  me  to  sing  it 
once  more.  I  asked  him,  in  jest,  what  he  \tould 
give  me  for  doing  so,  "  for  it  cannot  be  expected," 
said  I, "  that  I  should  sing  without  being  paid  for  it." 
"  Two  pounds  of  butter,"  he  immediately  rejoined. 
The  joke  amused  me.  When  I  had  finished,  the 
rustic  cried  out,  "  Play  again,  but  something  live- 
lier." He  must  have  been  pleased  with  my  per- 
formance, for  he  came  the  next  day  with  his  wife, 
and  giving  me  four  or  five  pounds  of  excellent 
butter,  begged  me  to  sing.  I  thus  gained  his 
good    will,     and     was    no    longer    in   want    ot 

^many  things,  which  for  a  long  time  I  had  been 
.♦? jj^unable  to  procure.     The  most  amusing  part  of 

Hhe  story  is,  that  he  really  believed  that  I  expected 
to  be  paid  for  the  pleasure  I  aflforded  him,  and 
wondered  that  I  insisted  upon  paying  him  for  his 
butter. 

The  Virginians  are  generally  indolent,  which 
may  be  attributed  to  their  hot  climate;  but,  on 
the  least  excitement,  they  become  animated,  and 
dance  and  whirl  about:  and  as  soon  as  thev  hear 


•i^r-*^- 


#■ 


■>: 


^' 


*     ,^1 


221 

the  reel,  (an  English  or  Scottish  national  dance,) 
they  look  for  a  partner,  and  jump  about  with  won- 
derful vivacity;  but  wht  4^he  music  ceases,  they 
are  again  like  statues. 


While  we  were  at  Frederic-Springs,  my  hijis- 
band  received  the  agreeable  news,  that  he  and 
general  Phillips,  with  their  respective  aids-de- 
camp, were  expected  in  New-York,  where  they 
were  to  be  exchanged  for  American  prisoners; 
upon  which  my  husband  returned  to  Colle,  in  or- 
der to  place  the  troops,  during  his  absence,  under 
the  command  of  colonel  Specht,  and  to  make 
some  arrangements  for  the  disposal  of  all  our  su- 
perfluous furniture,  but  chiefly  that  of  the  house 
which  we  had  lately  taken,  and  had  not  yet  enter- 
ed. We  experienced  the  same  thing  several 
times:  when  the  house  where  we  were  quartored^ 
happened  to  be  destitute  of  conveniences,  we  en.-l^'i;: 
deavoured  to  furnish  it;  but  scarcely  had  we  suc- 
ceeded so  far  as  to  make  it  a  little  comfortable, 
when  we  received,  to  our  great  annoyance,  orders 
to  depart.  I  left  Frederic-Springs  in  August, 
1779,  to  join  my  husband  in  Yorktown,  in  Penn- 
sylvania.    Mrs.   *^*,  the  amiable  lady  whom  I 

•     19* 


■.«'*■. 


^*. 


<Mi^ 


..*fW 


:.."*:■» 


If^'' 


«.w         -i) 


•i22 


have  already  mentioned,  having  begged  me  to  pay 
her  a  visit  on  her  estate  in  Maryland,  whenever  1 
should  pass  in  the  neighbourhood,  I  chose  the  pre- 
sent occasion.  Captain  Freeman,  one  of  my  hus- 
band's English  aids-de-camp,  remained  with  me. 
Captain  Edmonstone  had  been  exchanged,  in  con- 
sequence of  applications  made  by  his  father.  He 
was  so  devoted  to  my  husband,  and  so  unwilling 
to  leave  him,  that  it  was  not  easy  to  persuade  him 
to  return  to  England.  We  all  felt  deeply  his  de- 
parture, and  so  much  the  more  as  he  had  presen- 
timents of  never  seeing  us  again.  '*  l'?"^^* 

On  our  way  to  Mrs.  *^**'s  we  were  upset,  bui 
without  any  injury  to  any  of  us.  I  had  given  my 
friend  notice  of  my  arrival,  and  she  sent  a  man  on 
horseback  to  meet  us.  After  having  passed  a  neat 
village,  inhabited  by  negroes,  each  of  whom  had 
a  little  garden  near  his  hut,  and  knew  some  handi- 
craft, we  rode  through  a  fine  avenue  towards  the 
beaifliful  mansion-house,  where  the  whole  famil> 
v/aited  for  us,  and  received  us  with  great  cordiali- 
ty. By  family,  I  mean  Mrs.  ***'«  father-in-law, 
a  gentleman  of  eighty-four  years  of  age,  not  less 
remarkable  for  his  hale,  cheerful  look,  and  his 
scrupulous  neatness,  than  for  the  quiet  happiness 
which  shone  in  his  venerable  countenance,  his 
four  beautiful  grand-children,  and  our  excellent 


*. 


S 

t. 


¥ 


'>...  .t^Ai.r- 


JiS 


hostess.  All  was  in  plenty  in  tui^  hon  W« 
cat  off  silver,  and  every  thing  correnpoi  vi  wit) 
this  show  of  wealth,  though  only  so  far  a  as  war- 
ranted by  good  taste,  and  not  as  a  matter  of  <»^ten 
tation.  My  friends  told  me  that  I  was  expected 
to  remain  long  with  them,  and  that  they  should, 
therefore  treat  me  without  the  least  ceremony. 

The  garden  was  splendid,  and  the  day  after  my 
arrival,  Mrs.  ***  took  me  in  her  carriage  to  her 
vineyard,  which  was  still  more  beautiful  and  taste- 
ful, and  much  exceeded  my  expectations.  Wc 
drove  through  an  extensive  orchard,  at  the  end  ot 
which  we  ascended  the  slope  by  a  winding  path 
to  the  top,  and  all  along  the  vines  were  gracefully 
interwoven  with  rosebushes  and  amaranths.  From 
the  top  of  the  slope  the  prospect  was  charming, 
and  such  as  I  have  not  seen  in  any  other  part  of 
America   through   which  I  have  travelled.     « 

Not  far  from  this  place  is  Baltimore,  which  I 
am  told  is  a  very  beautiful  toM'n,  and  the  resi- 
dence of  many  interesting  families.  One  of  Mrs. 
***'s  intimate  friends,  an  agreeable  and  plea- 
sant lady,  came  from  Baltimore  to  pay  us  a  visit; 
and  when  I  saw  them  together,  I  could  imagine  1 
witnessed  the  meeting  of  Rousseau's  Heloise  with 
her  friend,  and  old  Mr.  ***  reminded  me  of  Mr. 
Wolmar.     Mrs.  ***  resembled  the  heroine  of  the 


^■: 


I 


f 

\ 


Vl 


t^l 


II 


•    f  ! 
-"  'ft 


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%: 


rp 


ah 


1^ 

224 


f 


novel  in  warmth  of  feeling,  and  would,  I  dare  say, 
gladly  have  chosen  a  St.  Preux  for  a  huiband. 
We  built  for  her,  upon  a  design  which  captr'<n 
Freeman  furnished  us,  a  temple  hung  with  fes- 
toons, and  which  we  consecrated  to  friendship 
and  gratitude.  Several  years  afterwards,  she 
wrote  me  that  her  relations  had  dressed  it  with 
fresh-gathered  flowers.  But  the  kind  and  amia> 
ble  Mrs.  ***  is  now  with  the  dead.  She  is  a 
great  loss  to  her  friends,  a  still  greater  to  her  chil- 
dren. We  spent  with  her  eight  or  ten  days,  and 
departed  with  regret.  She  furnished  us  with 
many  things,  which  there  was  little  prospect  wo 
should  want  for  a  long  time ;  and  that  liberality 
was  in  reality  superfluous, -for  the  royalists  receii 
ved  us  with  frank  hospitality,  from  political  sym- 
pathy, and  those  of  opposite  principles  gave  us  a 
friendly  welcome,  merely  from  habit,  for,  in  that 
country,  it  would  be  considered  a  crime  to  be- 
have otherwise  towards  strangers;  and  thus  we 
were  plentifully  supplied  with  all  we  needed.  • 

We  were  overtaken  by  a  violent  thunder-storm, 
in  a  wood,  not'  far  from  the  place  where  I  was  to 
meet  my  husband.  An  uprooted  tree  fell  down 
between  the  driver's  seat  and  the  horses,  which 
effectually  prevented  our  advancing,  not  one  of 
my  servants  being  strong  enough  to  remove  the 


^W- 


^ 


I  1 


225 


•* » 


irefr.  ^*Tho  thunder,  meanwhile,  continued  t<» 
roar;  it  fell  several  times  near  us,  and  another 
large  tree  was  struck,  and  threatened  to  crush  us 
in  its  fall.  I  encouraged  my  servants  to  try  again 
to  disengage  the  carriage,  but  the  driver  had  lost 
all  presence  of  mind,  and  protested  that  it  was 
impossible.  On  a  sudden,  my  little  Gustava,  who 
was  then  but  eight  years  old,  advised  him  to  un- 
liarness  the  horses,  and  to  hook  them  to  the  back 
j)art  of  the  carriage.  This  immediately  put  an 
end  to  our  perplexities,  and  every  one  wondered 
that  the  idea  had  not  sooner  occurred.  We  nt 
length  reached  Yorktown,  where  I  found  my  hus- 
band, who  had  been  much  alarmed  for  us  on  ac- 
count of  the  weather.  We  had  travelled  through 
a  beautiful  country,  part  of  which  was  inhabit- 
ed by  Moravians,  and  was  extremely  well  culti- 
vated. One  village  is  called  the  Holy  Sepulchre; 
and  in  another  district,  called  the  Holy  Land,  is 
the  village  of  Bethlehem,  where  we  found  a  good 
inn,  and  waited  for  those  of  our  company  who  had 
remained  behind.  I  had  with  me  some  beautiful 
birds  from  Virginia,  the  male  of  which  was  scar- 
let, with  a  kind  of  hood  of  a  deeper  red,  of  the  size 
of  a  linnet,  and  which  sang  beautifully ;  his  com- 
panion was  gray,  with  a  red  breast,  and  was  like- 
wise hooded.  These  birds  become  domesticated 
as  soon  as  they  are  caught,  and  will  eat  out  ot 


A-     ■' 


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; 

i 
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t-^MijiT'ii^ifti— ><  i^i .  -t 


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'a'  ■■'''  '^' 


'■i?*; 


226 


'  s 


..  '  < 


if 


1  ^'rib 

your  hands.  They  live  long,  but  tlie  males  are 
so  jealous  of  each  other,  that  two  of  them  cannot 
be  kept  in  the  same  room,  without  one  dies,  as  it 
were,  heart-broken.  I  saw,  also,  in  Virginia,  blue 
birds,  of  the  same  size,  whose  ordinary  cry  is  wil- 
lo !  and  this  being  the  name  of  one  of  my  hus- 
band's aids-de-camp,  we  had  a  good  deal  of  sport 
with  the  poor  thing.  One  of  our  attendants  had 
found  a  whole  nest  of  red  birds,  and  trained  them, 
and,  knowing  how  much  I  loved  the  beautiful  little 
creatures,  he  brought  two  cages  full  of  them  from 
Colle,  upon  his  back ;  but,  to  my  great  sorrow, 
they  had  all  died  when  he  reached  us.  I  had  also 
made  a  collection  of  splendid  butterflies,  and 
packed  them  carefully  in  a  casket ;  but,  by  the  up- 
setting of  the  waggon,  the  box  was  dashed  to 
pieces.  Having  twice  met  with  such  an  accident, 
I  forbore  making  any  new  collection.  After  we 
liad  once  again  been  re-united  and  reposed  our- 
selves, we  continued  our  journey,  during  which 
we  met  with  a  family,  who  received  us  very  kind- 
ly, and  pretended  to  be  royalists  in  their  feelings. 
They  showed  us  much  affection,  and  desired  us  to 
recommend  them  to  general  Cornwallis,  who,  as 
well  as  general  Clinton,  was  on  terms  of  intimac) 
with  general  Phillips,  and  had  contributed  to  our 
recall  from  Virginia. 

We  reached  a  beautiful  place,  called  Eli/.a- 


'K\ 


,-f».,rf»jk„»)i,V- 


■*:» 


227 


beth-Town,  opposite  to  Staten  Island,  where  we 
met  with  many   royahsts,  who  treated  us  with 
great  hospitality.    We  were  now  so  near  to  New- 
York,  and  so  sure  of  my  husband's  being  exchang- 
ed, that  we  thought  all  our  present  wishes  fulfilled, 
and  talked  during  our  dinner  of  crossing  over  to 
the  city,  and  finding  ourselves,  on  the  same  even- 
ing, restored  to  blessed  freedom.     But  on  a  sud- 
den the  room-door  opened,  and  there  entered  an 
officer  commissioned  by  general  Washington  to 
deliver  to  general  Phillips  a  letter  containing  an 
order  to  return  to  Virginia,  in  consequence  of  the 
congress  having  rejected  the  proposal  of  a  cartel. 
The  general  gave  way  to  the  natural  irritability 
of  his  temper.    Transported  by  passion,  he  started, 
and  stamped  and  uttered  the  most  injurious  ex- 
pressions against  the  members  of  congress.     I 
was  at  first  so  terrified,  that  I  could  not  say  a  word. 
The  general  came  to  me,  and  taking  me  by  the 
hand,  he  said,  "Do  not  lose  courage,  my  dear 
madam ;  pray,  follow  my  example :  see  how  com- 
posed I  am !"    "  Every  one,"  returned  I,  "  manages 
iiis  sorrows  in  his  own  way.     I  conceal  mine  in 
the  recesses  of  my  heart,  and  you  give  vent  to 
yours  without  restraint:  but  would  it  not  be  bet- 
ter not  to  show  so  clearly  what  you  feel,  and  thus 
avoid  becoming  the  sport  of  your  enemies,  who 
may,  besides,  take  other  revenge'?"  He  very  good- 


h^ 


'  fi 


^' 


j^' 


i»  -  i 


'2^        ^      ^ 

naturedly  answered  that  I  was  right,  and  promis- 
ed to  bear  his  sufferings  with  as  much  resignation 
as  myself,  and,  in  fact,  from  that  moment,  he  be- 
came composed  and  self-possessed. 

I  was  in  circumstances  which  rendered  travel- 
ling extremely  fatiguing  to  me,  and  was  so  much 
the  more  disappointed,  by  not  finding  quiet  and 
help  in  a  permanent  residence.  After  a  'day's 
halt,  we  were  obliged  to  begin  our  journey  back 
to  Virginia,  and  we  stopped  at  the  house  of  the 
gentleman  whom  I  have  already  mentioned.  Wc 
met  there  with  a  nephew  of  general  Washington, 
and  sevei^al  other  officers  of  the  American  army, 
who,  within  three  days,  had  brought  about  such  a 
change  in  the  opinions  of  our  host,  that  not  only 
his  daughters  were  extremely  affable  towards  the 
republican  officers,  but  indulged  them  with  the 
song  of  "  God  save  great  Washington  ;  God  d — n 
the  King"  I  could  scarcely  conceal  my  indigna- 
tion, when  I  took  leave  of  them  the  next  morning. 
On  reaching  Bethlehem,  my  husband  and  general 
Phillips  obtained  from  the  American  officers  per- 
mission to  remain  there,  until  the  difficulties  re- 
specting the  cartel  should  be  removed.  Having 
had  reason  to  be  gratified  with  the  liost  at  whose 
house  we  had  put  up  on  our  first  journey  through 
Bethlehem,  we  determined  to  board  with  him. 
We  were  sixteen  in  number,  besides  four  servants, 


% 


'•.-.f^^«F-- 


i  ^ 


229 


who  received  money  to  provide  for  their  meals, 
and  we  had  twenty  horses.  We  wished  to  agree 
upon  a  fixed  price  for  all  expenses  ;  but  our  host 
declined  this  proposal,  offering,  however,  to  wait 
for  his  pay  until  we  should  receive  money,  for,  at 
that  time,  we  had  none.  We  immediately  set  him 
down  as  an  honest  and  liberal  innkeeper,  and  the 
more  so  because  he  was  of  the  Moravian  commu- 
nity, and  his  establishment  was  the  inn  of  the  society. 
But  how  sadly  were  we  disappointed,  when,  after 
six  weeks  lodging  at  his  house,  and  on  the  day 
when  at  last  we  received  permission. to  go  to  New- 
York,  he  presented  us  a  bill  amounting  to  32,000 
dollars,  (in  American  paper  money,  it  is  true,)  but 
which  still  corresponded  to  about  400  guineas  in 
specie.  Fortunately  for  us,  a  traveller  passed 
through  the  place,  whose  business  it  seemed  to  be 
to  buy  silver  coin  at  any  price.  He  gave  us  eighty 
dollars  in  paper  money  for  every  dollar  in  silver. 
Without  him,  we  should  not  have  been  able  to 
have  left  Bethlehem  so  soon.* 

My  husband  continued  to  suffer  much  from  head- 
ache, and  his  respiration  was  oppressed  during  the 
night.     He  began,  at  that  time,  to  use  snuff,  for 


i 


'^-  The  author  of  the  "  Travels  through  the  Interior  Parts  of 
America,"  says  that  ho  discharged,  in  aa  inn  at  Fredericstown, 
ii  reckoning  of  732/.  sterling,  with  about  four  guineas  and  a  half. 

20 


X 


*■■ 


*'*Nfe.>«*3K38i4£:-^.^^">^'« 


230 


.(-t^; 


which  before  he  had  a  real  horror.  When  I  first 
suggested  to  him  to  try  that  remedy,  he  suspect- 
ed that  I  meant  to  rally  him ;  but  having  expe- 
rienced some  relief,  a  few  moments  after  having 
followed  my  advice,  he  gave  up  smoking  for  the  use 
of  snuff.  My  little  Caroline  suffered  much  from 
the  hooping-cough ;  and  owing  to  my  own  situa- 
tion, we  became  more  and  more  impatient  to  reacli 
New-York,  where  we  expected  to  find  good  ac- 
commodations, and  medical  assistance. 

There  were  in  Bethlehem,  as  in  all  other  Mo- 
ravian establishments,  separate  houses  for  the 
males  and  females.  The  latter  wrought  beautiful 
embroidery,  and  other  delicate  handiworks,  of 
which  I  bought  several  articles.  A  German  lady, 
of  noble  birth,  by  name  of  GersdorfT,  who  after- 
wards settled  at  Herrnhuth,  had  taught  the  sisters 
these  sorts  of  work.  The  houses  were  well  built, 
and  there  were  several  manufacturing  establish- 
ments, among  which  was  one  of  leather,  whicli 
furnished  articles  not  inferior  in  quality  to  thoge 
of  England,  and  half  as  cheap.  There  were,  be- 
sides, several  very  good  carpenters,  and  manufac- 
turers of  articles  of  iron  and  steel.  I  was  very 
desirous  to  see  Philadelphia,  which  is  but  twelve 
or  fifteen  miles  from  Bethlehem,  and  the  road  be- 
tween the  two  places  was  said  lo  be  throughout 


.i'fi^ 


.f^ 


-^i. 


231 


f-    ''\\m 


very  good.  But  as  my  husband,  as  well  as  the 
other  officers,  was  prohibited  from  going  there, 
and  as  I  was  resolved  to  share  with  him  all  his 
joys  and  sorrows,  I  gave  up  that  journey.  We 
went  often  to  the  church  in  Bethlehem,  and  were 
always  delighted  with  the  rich  melody  of  their  sa- 
cred music.  The  clergyman's  wife  died  while  wc 
were  in  Bethlehem.  The  corpse  lay,  waiting  for 
burial,  in  the  open  air,  and  within  an  enclosure 
made  of  bars,  for  tfie  Moravians  never  keep  a 
dead  body  in  their  houses. 

At  length,  towards  the  end  of  November,  1779, 
we  again  left  Bethlehem,  though  neither  my  hus- 
band nor  general  Phillips,  nor  their  respective 
aids-de-camp,  were  yet  exchanged,  but  only  per- 
mitted to  go  to  New- York  upon  parole.  I  did  not 
wish  to  see  again,  the  family  which  I  have  already 
mentioned  twice,  for  their  inconsistency  had  filled 
me  with  disgust ;  but,  unfortunately,  our  vehicle 
broke  down  close  to  their  door,  and  I  was  thus 
(Obliged  to  remain  with  them,  until  it  was  repaired. 
I  did  not,  however,  spend  the  night  under  their 
roof,  and  when  they  again  begged  us  to  recom- 
mend them,  and  indulged  in  self-applause  for 
their  devotion  to  the  king,  in  whose  army  the 
chief  of  that  family  had  served  as  a  colonel,  I 
replied  coldly,  that  I  thought  thev  did  not  want 


R.-  I 


^--j;:,).v-:"f-, /-■■•■,-„ 


232 


our  recommendation  ;  an  answer  which  had  more 
than  one  meaning.  •  •      /"'       w^'   '      . 

In  Elizabethtown,  we  again  met  with  a  very 
friendly  reception,  and  from  thence  we  crossed  in  a 
boat  to  New- York,  where  we  arrived  late  in  the  eve- 
ning, and  where  my  husband  already  waited  for  us. 
From  the  gate  of  the  city,  a  soldier  went  before 
us  to  show  us  the  way  to  our  lodgings.  It  was  a 
beautiful  and  spacious  house,  where  every  thing 
seemed  ready  for  our  reception,  and  where  a  gootl 
supper  awaited  us.  I  was  so  fully  occupicj  in 
putting  my  children  to  bed,  and  so  fatigued,  that 
it  never  occurred  to  me  to  inquire  respecting  my 
new  residence,  and  nothing  was  farther  from  my 
mind,  than  that  I  was  any  where  else  but  in  a  pub- 
lic hotel.  My  husband,  who  had  been  invited  to 
a  supper  at  general  Cornwallis',  came  home  late. 
On  the  next  morning,  a  servant  came  to  ask  me, 
what  I  should  wish  for  my  dinner,  and  how  many 
guests  I  expected  to  have  every  day.  I  replied, 
that  as  my  husband  dined  scjj^m  at  home,  three 
dishes  would  be  sufficient ;  and  that  we  were  six 
persons ;  myself,  my  children,  my  female  attend- 
ants, and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Mylius,  the  chaplain  of  my 
husband's  regiment,  and  now  the  only  instructer 
we  had  for  our  children.  He  was  a  most  worthy 
gentleman,  and,  at  the  same  time,  of  such  a  cheer- 
ful temper,  that  we  all,  including  the  children. 


11 


c- 


»# 


^-  .-_,  "*~?'5Sf^J 


■ftV.;^ 


233 


loved  him.  I  was  told  that  orders  had  been  given 
to  furnish  my  table  with  six  principal  courses,  and 
three  smaller  services ;  and  still  supposing  that  I  was 
in  a  public  hotel,  I  strongly  objected  against  such 
profusion,  for  fear  of  excessive  expense.  But  I 
soon  discovered  my  error.  The  house  was  that  of 
the  governor,  general  Tryon,  who  apprehending 
that  I  might  refuse  to  take  my  abode  with  him, 
had  given  orders  that  I  should  not  be  informed 
where  the  soldier  had  conducted  me  :  and  such 
was  his  generosity,  that  in  order  to  leave  me  more 
at  ease,  and  to  avoid  my  thanks,  he  >f  ent  to  Long- 
Island,  under  the  pretence  of  attending  to  some 
affairs  connected  with  the  provisional  command 
he  held  there.  All  my  wishes  were  fiilly  grati- 
fied, but  1  was  constantly  apprehensive  lest  I 
should  abuse  so  much  kindness.  General  Patter- 
son, the  commandant  of  the  city,  c  ime  to  wait 
upon  me,  and  informed  m^,  that  the  house  which 
we  should  have  to  ourselves,  was  in  progress  of 
preparation.  I  received,  also,  visits  from  general 
Cornwallis,  and  general  Clinton.  The  former, 
soon  afterwards,  soX  out  on  a  military  expedition ; 
and  the  latter  offered  me  a  country-seat,  of  which 
he  was  permitted  to  dispose,  that  I  might  have  my 
children  inoculated  there,  on  account  of  the  dan- 
ger of  that  operation  in  the  city,  where  the  small- 
pox was  then  making  sad  ravages.     I  readily  ac- 

20* 


# 


-\ 


f^ 


'1  M 


t'\ 


( 


*i-n 


ii.k 


f , 


234 

cepted  this  obliging  offer,  and  we  made  our  pre- 
parations to  go  there  immediately  with  the  child- 
ren. I  gave  the  cook  ten  guineas  to  buy  provisions 
for  that  journey ;  but  he  soon  returned  to  ask  for 
more  money,  saying  that  what  I  had  given  him 
would  not  pay  for  two  days'  provision,  such  was 
the  scarcity  and  high  price  of  every  thing.  For 
instance,  a  pound  of  meat  cost  twelve  groschen  ;* 
a  pound  of  butter,  eighteen  groschen ;  a  turkey, 
four  dollars ;  a  fowl,  twenty  groschen ;  an  egg, 
four  groschen ;  a  quart  of  milk,  six  groschen  ;  a 
hamper  of  potatoes,  two  dollars ;  half  a  hamper 
of  turnips,  one  dollar  and  a  half;  ten  oysters, 
eight  groschen  ;  and  half  a  dozen  onions,  one 
dollar.  There  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  bear  it 
with  patience.    - 

One  day,  the  servant  came  to  announce  to  me 
the  visit  of  a  general :  I  answered,  that  I  should 
be  glad  to  see  him.  The  general  came,  and,  after 
the  usual  preliminaries  of  conversation,  inquired 
how  I  was  pleased  with  my  lodgings.  My  heart 
was  so  full  of  feelings  of  gratitude,  that  I  en- 
larged much  upon  the  attentions  I  had  received, 
and  expressed  my  anxious  wish  to  become  person- 


*  A  groschen,  as  has  been  salt!  in  a  preceding  note,  is  oni- 
Vwenty-fourth  of  a  Prussian  dolhiv. 


\ 


«*, 


our  pro- 
the  child- 
provisionn 
to  ask  for 
»iven  him 
such  was 
ng.  For 
roscKen  ;* 
a  turkey, 

;  an  ^gg^ 
)schen  ;  a 

a  hamper 

I  oysters, 
ions,  one 
to  bear  it 

nee  to  mo 

I I  should 
and,  after 
,  inquired 
My  heart 
hat  I  en- 
received, 
le  person- 


note,  is  one 


235 

ally  acquainted  with  my  generous  host.  I  had 
scarcely  time  to  observe  a  light  smile  which 
played  upon  the  countenance  of  my  visiter,  when 
my  husband,  who  had  entered  the  room  at  that 
moment,  told  me,  "  You  are  speaking  to  him  who 
has  shown  you  so  much  kindness."  My  joy,  my 
emotion,  my  stammering  voice,  deeply  affected 
that  excellent  man,  who  ever  afterwards  continued 
to  show  mc  an  affectionate  regard. 

General  Clinton's  country  seat,  where  we  went 
with  the  children,  was  one  mile  from  the  town.  It 
was  beautifully  situated,  and  the  house  would 
have  been  also  quite  to  my  taste,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  season.  This  was  a  summer  residence, 
and  as  we  went  there  in  December,  we  suffered 
much  from  the  cold.  The  inoculation  of  my  chil- 
dren, however,  succeeded,  and  when  tlie  danger 
of  infection  in  the  city  was  over,  we  prepared  our- 
selves to  return,  and  sent  before  us  the  cook  and 
the  servants,  with  directions  tcr  make  every  thing 
ready  for  our  arrival  on  the  following  day  ;  but 
during  the  night  we  had  a  dreadful  storm,  which 
endangered  our  house,  and,  indeed,  threw  down 
part  of  the  balustrade,  which  fell  with  a  terrible 
crash.  On  awaking  the  next  morning,  we  found 
ourselves  shut  up  by  the  snow ;  and,  in  some 
places,  where  the  wind  had  thrown  it  together  in 
large  drifts,  it  was  eight  feet  deep.     We  could 


".  M 


236 

not  think  of  leaving  the  place  except  in  sledges. 
We  had  a  difficult  task  to  provide  for  our  dinner. 
An  old  white  fowl,  which  had  fortunately  escaped 
the  cook's  notice,  furnished  us  with  a  broth, 
which,  with  a  few  potatoes  the  gardener  gave  us, 
served  for  the  dinner  of  more  than  fourteen  per- 
sons. In  the  afternoon,  while  I  was  standing  in 
a  melancholy  mood,  near  the  window,  pondering 
upon  the  difficulty  of  extricating  ourselves  from 
our  present  perplexities,  I  saw  my  cook  arrive  on 
horseback.  I  immediately  turned  round  towards 
the  company,  and  joyfully  told  them,  that  we 
should  now  be  soon  relieved.  But  when  I  looked 
out  again,  the  cook  had  disappeared.  The  gen- 
tleman, who  were  with  me,  in  great  alarm  ran  to 
see  what  had  become  of  him,  and  found  him  and 
his  horse  sunk  deep  in  the  snow.  He  had  in  vain 
attempted  to  rise,  and,  perhaps^  might  have  pe- 
rished, if  he  had  not  been  succoured.  Our  other 
servants  had  begun  to  be  uneasy  at  not  seeing  us 
arrive  at  the  appointed  time,  and  as  they  had  car- 
ried off  every  thing,  they  sent  us  some  provisions 
by  the  cook,  by  means  of  which  we  had,  at  least, 
a  tolerable  supper,  though  it  was  still  impossible 
to  return  to  the  city. 

The  next  morning,  captain  Willoe  arrived,  witii 
two  large  sledges,  in  which  we  set  out  for  New- 
York.     I  was  still  uneasy,  on  account  of  my  child- 


m. 


# 


r; 


237 


rcn,  their  recovery  from  the  distemper  attending 
their  inoculation,  having  been  retarded  by  the 
cold  weather ;  but  fortunately  they  arrived  in  good 
health.  My  little  Caroline  had  not  been  troubled 
with  the  hooping  cough  during  that  crisis,  but 
now  she  suffered  from  it  again,  and  was  not  rid  of 
it  for  a  whole  year.  On  our  return  to  New- York, 
I  was  not  a  little  surprised  to  find  my  apartments 
fitted  up  with  mahogany ;  and  was  really  alarmed 
for  the  expense.  But  captain  Willoe  told  me, 
that  the  furniture  had  been  purchased  at  the  go- 
vernor's cost,  and  that  general  Patterson  esteemed 
it  his  good  fortune  to  contribute  in  justifying  the 
confidence  which  I  had  placed  in  his  countrymen. 
To  explain  this,  I  must  observe,  that  while  con- 
versing with  him  once  on  the  arrangement  of  my 
establishment,  I  happened  to  say,  that  I  trusted 
wholly  to  our  English  friends,  who  had  constantly 
given  us  proofs  of  kindness  and  civility,  and  who 
surely  would  not  now  change  their  opinion  of  us, 
after  they  had  sent  for  us.  Ind(3ed,  they  loaded 
us  with  distinctions  and  marks  of  affectionate  in- 
terest, for  which  we  were  indebted  to  no  one  more 
than  to  general  Phillips,  who  was  generally  be- 
loved, and  felt  such  a  friendship  for  us.  that  ho 
repeatedly  declared,  that  any  favour  bestowed  on 
us,  would  give  him  more  pleasure,  than  if  it  were 
Destowed  upon  himself.     Gradually  the  number 


:  :i 


■  <.  ii 


.§<^4 


•*M»a\  «(«.-)ii«Nfta>Sk»^ 


.JiU.. 


238 


il 


7 


■I- 


ol'  my  friends  in  New-York  increased  consideiu- 
bly.         ^       .'     •     •  ,  .        '• 

The  queen's  birthday  (or  rather  the  day  fixed 
upon  for  its  commemoration,  for  the  convenience  ol 
milliners  and  merchants)  was  approaching,  and 
my  friends  wishing  to  give  me  on  that  occasion  ji 
particular  mark  of  their  regard,  with  the  purpose 
of  compensating  me  for  past  sufferings,  and  ol 
complying  with  the  wish  of  general  Phillips,  de- 
termined to  confer  on  me  the  principal  honours 
of  the  festivity,  as  representative  of  the  queen. 
To  do  this,  they  were  obliged  to  persuade  the 
wife  of  the  aid-de-camp  of  general  Cornwallis, 
who,  from  her  birth,  might  have  claimed  the  pre- 
cedence, not  to  attend  the  ball,  seemingly  out  61 
regard  to  tho  delicate  situation  in  which  she  then 
was,  but  really  with  a  view  to  remove  all  the  dif- 
ficulties which  might  be  in  way  of  my  having  all 
the  honours  of  the  occasion.  On  the  appointed 
day,  I  was  received  in  the  most  respectful  manner, 
in  presence  of  all  the  ladies  who  had  been  invited 
by  governor  Tryon.  At  supper,  I  was  s^  d  un- 
der a  canopy,  and  drank  the  first  health.  Much 
as  I  was  flattered  by  all  these  distinctions,  1  should 
not  have  remained  until  two  o'clot  k,  had  it  not 
been  necessary  in  order  to  evince  my  gratitude. 
T  continued  to  be  treated  with  excessive  kindness, 
during  the  whole  time  I  remained,  at  New-York. 


239 


and  I  spent  the  winter  very  agreeably.  The  8c« 
verc  cold  was  the  only  alloy  which  mixed  with 
my  pleasures.  The  commissary  had,  for  his  pri- 
vate convenience,  left  it  to  the  care  of  his  negro 
slaves  to  cut  wood  for  fuel ;  and  the  winter  having 
set  in  earlier  than  usual,  and  the  river  not  being 
frozen  hard  enough,  to  transport  it  in  sledges,  we, 
and  the  whole  garrison,  suffered  much  from  want 
of  fire-wood.  Sometimes  it  was  utterly  impossi- 
ble to  procure  it  for  any  money,  and  when  there 
was  some  in  the  market,  the  price  was  exorbi- 
tant. 

Shortly  before  my  confinement,  1  was  terribly 
frightened.  One  of  my  attendants  brought  mo 
something,  and  I  observed  that  he  had  a  singular 
look,  and  spoke  with  diflSculty.  I  became  alarm- 
ed, and  attempted  to  run  out  of  the  room  ;  but  he 
set  off  before  me,  tumbled,  shut  the  door  in  fall- 
ing, and  displayed  to  my  eyes  all  the  horrors  of  an 
epileptic  fit.  Precluded,  by  his  position,  from 
running  for  succour,  I  called  and  shrieked  ;  but 
in  the  hurry  the  lock  of  the  door  was  deranged, 
:md  it  became  necessary  to  force  it  open;  and 
when  this  was  done,,  we  had  yet  a  good  deal  of 
trouble  before  the  man  could  be  removed,  and  1 
was  at  last  obliged  to  leap  over  his  body,  and  t«» 
siqueeze  my  way  out  of  the  room,  while  he  giiasli- 
cd  his  teeth,  and  struck  his  arms  about  liim  in  n 


■■} 


V 


■  V 


t 

I  ■ 

I  1 

T 

^/  ^ 

f. 

•  '<  \ 

T 

r. 

>'•:■   ' 

i' 

n 

'  •"«-<'"'«*p  ' 


240 


/*     •■! 


■* 


*age.  I  was  nowj  however,  so  much  familiakized 
with  tragic  and  dreadful  scenes,  that  this  had  no 
injurious  effect  upon  my  health.  .  .,v 

Early  in  March,  1780,  I  had  the  pleasure  of 
meeting  with  general  Loos,  of  the  Hessian  troops, 
who  had  known  me  when  I  was  very  young, 
"  Ha !  ha !"  exclaimed  he,  as  he  looked  at  me, 
"  what  have  you  done  with  your  elegant  figure, 
your  brilliant  complexion,  and  your  pretty  taper 
white  hands  9  They  are  gone ;  but  you  have 
seen  many  countries,  and  on  your  return  amidst 
your  old  friends,  you  will  have  much  to  narrate ; 
but  the  same  ladies  who  will  beg  you  to  tell  them 
much  about  your  adventures,  will,  perhaps,  from 
mere  envy,  soon  find  that  your  story  is  rather  te- 
dious, and  while  fanning  away  their  ennuif  they 
may  whisper  loud  enough  for  you  to  hear  it,  'That 
good  gentlewoman  never  ceases  to  travel  in  Ame- 
rica.'" I  remembered  that  he  was  wont  to  clothe 
his  most  serious  counsels  in  the  garb  of  raillery, 
and  thanked  him  for  his  good  intention,  assuring 
him  that  I  should  show  how  well  I  had  profited  by 
his  advice,  by  forbearing  to  relate  to  him  the 
scenes  through  which  I  had  passcv-^ ;  but  begged 
him  to  take  also  from  me  the  advice,  never  to  re- 
mind a  lady  of  her  past  beauty,  lest  he  should 
meet  with  many,  who  would  not  hear  such  things 
with  as  much  indifference  as  myself 


li 


.an- 


241 

On  the  following  day,  March  7th,  I  presented 
my  husband  with  another  daughter.  He  had  much 
desired  a  son ;  but  the  little  girl  was  so  pretty, 
that  we  soon  consoled  ourselves,  and  determined 
to  call  her  America,  promising  ourselves  not  to 
think  more  of  the  Americus,  which  we  hopetJ  to 
have  in  our  family ;  but  the  baptism  was  soltkito- 
ried,  owing  to  the  necessity  under  which  general 
Phillips  was  of  leaving  New- York  on  a  short  ex- 
cursion, he,  with  general  Knyphausen,  and  co- 
lonel Wurmb,  being  the  only  sponsors,  that  the 
name  of  America  was  forgotten,  and  we  were 
obliged  to  have  it  afterwards  added  in  the  church 
register.  On  the  same  day,  my  eldest  daughter 
had  the  first  symptoms  of  a  dangerous  complaint, 
which  is  called  asthma  infantile,  and,  in  a  few  days 
afterwards,  my  third  child  sickened  also.  I  had 
them  both  in  my  room,  while  there  was  apparently 
little  hope  of  their  recovery.  My  heart  suffered 
as  much  as  ever,  but  my  frame  was  so  much  hard- 
ened by  toils  and  suffering,  that  my  life  was  not 
endangered,  notwithstanding  the  situation  in 
which  I  then  was.  Six  weeks  afterwards,  I  com- 
plied with  my  husband's  w^ish,  to  attend  a  dinner 
given  by  general  Tryon.  The  invitation  had,  as 
I  afterwards  discovered,  a  more  important  object 
than  social  pleasure.  While  we  were  dining,  my 
ehild  was  inoculated,  by  an  English  physician, 

21 


V-: 


-5t 


-51^" 


.;i^T 


'/ 


^ 


i 

1 


•  ■■WTT/;*    "^"J' 


242 


..J 


i 


w 


fr^ 


there  being,  at  that  time,  a  vast  number  of  child' 
ren  in  the  city  sick  of  the  small-pox.  Every  thing 
was  arranged  in  such  a  manner,  as  to  spare  me  all 
anxiety,  and  my  husband  might  have  succeeded, 
if  he  could  have  concealed  his  own  uneasiness ; 
but  when  we  were  in  our  own  rooms,  he  repeated- 
ly went  to  the  child's  cradle,  and  murmured, 
"  How  pale  she  is !  She  is  certainly  iH."  Alarm- 
ed at  length  by  hearing  these  words,  I  told  him, 
h©<.eurely  had  some  reason  to  fear,  and  asked  him, 
whether  he  had  caused  the  child  to  be  inoculated? 
and,  without  waiting  for  an  answer,  I  ran  to  the 
cradle,  and  looked  at  her  arms.  I  felt,  at  first, 
quite  angry,  and  was'  really  much  troubled, 
but  soon  duly  appreciated,  my  husband's  good 
intention.  Our  child  becao  '  ^-^  ill,  that  we  feared 
for  its  life;  and  my  poor  his;  .  .  i  was  so  disconso- 
late with  the  idea  that  he  had  brought  upon  us 
this  affliction,  that  I  could  with  difficulty  keep  up 
his  courage  ;  but  insensibly  the  child  mended,  and 
recovered  its  health.  An  English  nobleman,  who 
had  followed  our  example,  was  less  fortunate. 

During  the  winter,  we  constantly  enjoyed  the 
company  of  generals  Phillips,  Tryon,  and  Patter- 
son. Once  a  week,  we  gave  a  great  dinner. 
Every  thing  was  so  excessively  dear,  that  we  could 
not  carry  our  hospitality  any  farther.  On  gene- 
ral Tryon's  departure  for  England,  in  the  begin- 


% 


'■  '■-.■ .  V  'f-j:^r-  J  -'.  •-  i.^^-s/'.? 


243 

ning  of  the  spring,  I  unexpectedly  found  that  he 
had  left  me,  as  a  token  of  his  remembrance,  carpets, 
furniture,  and  silk  tapestry  for  one  room.  I  shall 
never  forget  the  many  marks  of  kindness  which  I 
have  received  from  every  Englishman  with  whom 
my  good  fortune  has  made  me  acquainted ;  and  it 
will  giye  me  so  much  the  more  pleasure  to  oblige 
any  of  their  coimtrymen  who  may  visit  Germany, 
as  they  have  so  often  imparted  to  me  the  consola- 
tion of  meeting  with  sympathy  among  foreigners. 
At  that  time  began,  also,  our  intimacy  with  gene- 
ral Clinton,  who  was  general-in-chief  of  the  Bri- 
tish armies  in  the  southern  provinces  of  North 
America.  With  him,  as  with  almost  every  other 
Englishman,  the  beginning  of  our  acquaiintance 
was  cold  and  formal.  His  first  visit  was  very  ce- 
remonious ;  he  came  as  commander-in-chief,  and 
was  followed  by  all  his  aids-de-camp.  His  manners 
and  conversation  being  agreeable,  I  said  to  his 
friend,  general  Phillips,  that  I  regretted  that  he 
treated  us  with  so  much  ceremony,  and  that  a 
friendly  intercourse  would  flatter  our  feelings  in- 
finitely more.  He  afterwards  offered  us  his  coun- 
try-seat for  the  summer ;  and  our  residence  there 
was  very  agreeable.  The  situation  was  uncom- 
monly beautiful :  around  the  house  we  had  mea- 
dows and  orchards,  and  at  our  feet  the  Hudson. 
We  had  abundance  of  delicious  fruit  f  our  ser- 


«. 


¥. 


'  i. 


'A***^""""''  '""'^  **  ^^Mlif 


*« 


M     ■ 


♦. 
< 


* 


.■,ii\ 


•f'f 


244 


.v4 


vants  had  more  peaches  than  they  could  eat ;  and 
our  horses,  who  ran  lo'.='»  through  the  orchards, 
trampled  upcn  the  fruit  lying  on  the  ground,  pre- 
ftrring  to  eat  that  on  the  trees.  Hogs  were  fat- 
tened upon  what  seemed  to  be  not  good  enough 
for  the  steeds;  and  six  of  them  being  killed,  af- 
forded us  excellent  meat,  except  that  the  fat  was 
rather  soft. — In  America,  peach  and  apricot  trees 
shoot  up  without  support,  and  have  trunks  as  thick 
as  those  of  common  trees. 

Not  far  from  us  were  the  dangerous  rocks  called 
the  Hell-Gates.  Many  ships,  we  thought,  were 
near  foundering;  but  only  one  was  actually  driven 
upon  the  rocks  and  lost. 

General  Clinton  visited  us  frequently,  in  his 
hunting-dress,  accompanied  by  only  one  aid-de- 
camp. At  first,  he  told  us,  "  I  know  you  like  me 
better  when  I  come  to  see  you  as  a  friend,  and 
this  being  perfectly  agreeable  to  my  feelings,  1 
promise  never  to  appear  under  any  other  charac- 
ter."  The  last  time  he  called  on  us,  he  was  ac- 
companied by  the  ill-fated  major  Andre,  who,  or. 
the.  succeeding  day,  set  out  upon  the  fatal  expe- 
dition in  which  he  was  made  prisoner  by  the 
Americans,  and  afterwards  hanged  as  a  spy.  ^  It 
was  a  pity  that  this  excellent  young  man  should 
have  become  a  victim  of  his  zeal  and  of  the  good- 
ness of  his  heart,  which  led  him  to  volunteer  on 


»• 


t 


'■W 


^.f*' 


.^«, 


'W 


i^ '  I    -W 


•»» 


4i'i^.  .% 


245 


uld  eat ;  and 
he  orchards, 
ground,  pre- 

gs  were  fat- 
ood  enough 

ig  killed,  af- 
the  fat  was 

apricot  trees 

inks  as  thick 

rocks  called 
ought,  were 
ually  driven 

ntly,  in  his 
one  aid-de- 
you  like  me 

friend,  and 
r  feelings,  1 
her  charac- 
he  was  ac- 
re, who,  or. 

fatal  expe- 
ner  by  the 

a  spy.  *  It 
nan  should 
f  the  good- 
•lunteer  on 


such  a  sad  commission,  instead  of  leaving  it  to  the 
officer  to  wljom  the  duty  really  belonged;  but 
whom,  being  old  and  too  well  known,  he  wished  to 
save  from  the  dangers  to  which  he  thought  he 
would,  on  that  account,  be  more  exposed  than 
himself. 

We  spent  our  time  very  agreeably,  until  our 
pleasures  were  disturbed  by  the  news  of  a  malig- 
nant fe\er,  which  was  making  dreadful  ravages  in 
New- York.  In  our  house,  alone,  there  were 
twenty  persons  labouring  under  that  disease,  and 
eight  of  them  were  dangerously  ill :  among  these 
latter,  were  my  husband  and  my  daughter  Gus- 
tava.  I  leave  it  to  be  imagined  what  I  suffered  ! 
Day  and  night  I  tended  them.  My  husband  was 
so  ill,  that  we  more  than  once  feared  that  he  would 
not  survive  the  day ;  and  my  daughter's  fits  of  fe- 
ver were  so  violent,  that  no  covering  was  suffi- 
cient to  warm  her :  I  was  obliged  to  stretch  my- 
self upon  her ;  and  then  her  endeavours  to  rise 
were  so  strenuours,  that  I  could  with  difficulty 
avoid  falling,  or  keep  her  covered.  In  the  midst 
of  such  convulsions,  the  patients  generally  ex- 
pired. Every  day  I  heard  of  fifty  or  sixty  bu- 
rials ;  and  such  tidings  were  not  calculated  to 
strengthen  my  courage.  The  heat,  which  the 
sick  suffered  at  intervals,  was  so  great,  that'  their 
pulse  beat  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  times  in  a 

21* 


5* 


HI 


■« 


%> 


■^•' 


^^ 


m 


# 


I.' 


*•' 


^46 


minute.  All  our  attendants  were  sick,  and  I  way, 
therefore,  obliged  to  attend  to  every  thing.  I 
nursed  my  little  America,  and  took  no  rest,  ex- 
cept in  those  moments  when  I  nursed  her  :  over- 
come by  fatigue,  at  such  times,  my  eyes  sometimes 
closed.  During  the  night,  I  prepared  for  my  poor 
patients,  absinthiated  lemonade,  mixed  with  lemon 
and  sugar.  A  thousand  lemons  were  thus  con- 
sumed in  the  course  of  a  fortnight.    « 

We  were  one  day  in  anxious  expectation  of  our 
physician  from  New-York,  my  husband's  symptoms 
having  become,  of  late,  more  and  more  threaten- 
ing :  he  was  continually  in  a  lethargic  stupor,  and 
whon  I  presented  him  the  sago-water,  which  the 
physician  had  ordered  for  him,  and  wished  him  to 
drink  frequently,  he  turned  round,  desiring  me  to 
let  him  die  quietly.  He  thought  his  end  must  be 
near.  The  physician  having  entered  the  room, 
at  that  moment,  I  urgently  begged  him  to  tell  me 
the  truth,  and  to  let  rae  know,  if  there  was  any 
hope  of  my  husband's  recovery.  He  had  scarcely 
said  "  yes,"  when  my  children,  upon  hearing  this 
merciful  \yord,  sprang  from  under  a  table,  where 
they  had  laid  concealed  in  dreadful  expectation 
of  the  doctor's  sentence,  and  threw  themselves  at 
his  feet,  and  kissed  his  haiids  with  rapturous  feel- 
ings of  gratitude.  Nobody  could  have  witnessed 
this  scene  without  sharing  my  deep  emotion.    The 


! 


Wi: 


:-f»^,i  ^  ,^..*' 


Jf   ^ 


247 


<•• 


♦ 


jk,  and  I  way, 
ery  thing.  I 
no  rest,  ex- 
3d  her :  over- 
/es  sometimes 
d  for  my  poor 
id  with  lemon 
jre  thus  con- 

ctation  of  our 
id's  symptoms 
lore  threaten- 
c  stupor,  and 
3r,  which  the 
wished  him  to 
esiring  me  to 
end  must  be 
id  the  room, 
im  to  tell  me 
ere  was  any 
had  scarcely 
1  hearing  this 
table,  where 
i  expectation 
hemselves  at 
pturous  feel- 
ve  witnessed 
notion.    The 


I 


doctor,  who  was  a  man  of  great  sensibility,  could 
not  restraia  his  tears.  He  had  previously  been  very 
punctual  in  his  visits ;  and  he  now  dined  with  us 
every  day,  in  order  to  give  us  more  of  his  time,  of 
which  he  id  but  little  left  for  repose,  owing  to 
the  great  number  of  his  patients.  Our  venerable 
cle/gyman,  and  the  good  Rockel,  who  happily 
were  both  in  good  health,  assisted  me  by  turns  in 
my  night-watches.  Out  of  thirty  persons,  ol 
whom  our  family  consisted,  ten  only  escaped  the 
disease.  The  latter,  however,  suffered  much  from 
the  heat,  which  was  excessive.  It  is  astonishing 
how. much  the  frail  human  creature  can  endure; 
and  I  am  amazed  that  I  survived  such  hard  trials. 
My  happy  temperament  permitted  me  even  to  be 
gay  and  cheerful,  whenever  my  hopes  were  en- 
couraged. The  best  health  is  often  undermined 
by  such  sufferings ;  still  I  rejoice  to  think  that  I 
had  it  in  my  power  to  be  useful  to  those  who  are 
dearest  to  me,  and  that,  without  my  exertions,  I 
might  have  loU  those  who  now  contribute  so 
much  to  my  feUcity.  At  length  all  my  patients 
were  cured. 

We  spent  the  v  hole  summer  of  1780  in  our  de- 
lightful country- icat,  where  the  Uvo  Misses  Ro- 
binson contributed  to  enliven  our  solitude.     They 
spent  a  fortnight  with  us,  previous  to  our  return- 
to  town,  where,  they  hastened  to  see  the  new 


hM 


^   #p^ 


m-^''- 


k. 


% 


V 


^ 


s  248 

fashions,  lately  imported  from  England.  On  oui 
next  meeting,  I  hardly  recognized  thenij  in  the  ex- 
travagant and  ridiculous  attire,  into  which  a  very 
beautiful  woman,  who  had  arrived  from  England, 
had  cheated  them,  as  well  as  all  the  other  fashion- 
able belles  of  New-York. 

Our  friends  in  New-York  received  us  with  great 
kindness,  and  vied  with  each  other  in  endeavour- 
ing to  make  the  winter  as  agreeable  to  us  as  pos- 
sible. At  last,  in  the  autumn  of  1780,  general 
Phillips  and  my  husband,  with  their  aids-de-camp, 
were  exchanged ;  but  the  rest  of  the  army  who 
surrendered  it  Saratoga,  still  remained  prisoners. 

General  Clinton,  partly  through  friendship  for 
my  husband,  and  partly  through  regard  to  the  in- 
terest of  the  duke,  our  actual  sovereign,  wished  to 
replace  Mr.  de  Riedesel  in  active  service,  and 
with  that  view  appointed  h'm,  in  virtue  of  the 
powers  conferred  on  the  British  general-in-chief, 
I'eutenaiit'gener  il  in  the  royal  army.  Every  thing 
being  excessively  dear,  we  had  so  much  the  more 
reason  to  rejoice  that  this  promotion  was  accom- 
panied by  a  corresponding  increase  of  salary.  My 
husband  was,  moreover,  invested  with  the  com- 
mand at  Long-Island,  which  lies  opposite  to  New- 
York,  and  is  only  separated  from  it  by  the  East 
River.  I  was  not  able  to  accompany  him  thither, 
during  the  winter,  the  house  which  was  prepared 


# 


^\ 


^^ 


■■■fe 


% 


% 


nd.     On  our 
enj  in  the  ex- 
which  a  very 
om  England, 
)ther  fashion- 
US  with  great 
I  endeavour- 
to  us  as  pos- 
780,  general 
ids-de-camp, 
e   army  who 
ed  prisoners, 
iendship  for 
rd  to  the  in- 
fn,  wished  to 
service,  and 
virtue  of  the 
3ral-in-chief, 
Every  thing 
ich  the  more 
was  ac  corn- 
salary.    My 
;h  the  corn- 
site  to  New- 
by  the  East 
him  thither, 
18  prepared 


» _ 


\' 


249 


lor  his  quarters,  having  but  few  rooms  provided 
with  fire-places.  But  every  thing  was  then  so 
quiet,  that  he  came  often  to  see  me.  Shortly  be- 
fore he  received  his  new  appointment,  he  had  a 
dangerous  relapse  of  his  fever,  in  consequence  of 
a  cold  which  he  had  caught  when  bathing  in  the 
sea.  •  It  was  as  if  he  had  been  struck  with  the 
palsy ;  he  was  deprived  of  motion,  could  not 
speak ;  and  had  not  his  friend,  colonel  Wurmb, 
been  in  the  room  when  he  experienced  the  first 
attack  of  the  disease,  he  might  have  lost  his  life. 
Remedies  were  quickly  applied,  and  again,  through 
God's  mercy,  he  escaped  death ;  but  he  was  more 
than  ever  deprived  of  sleep,  and  his  oppressions, 
head-aches,  and  convulsions  increased.  AH  the 
physicians  were  of  opinion,  that  his  distemper 
arose  chiefly  from  the  climate,  and  that  he  would 
never  recover  as  long  as  he  should  reside  in  that 
part  of  America  in  which  we  then  were.  What- 
ever weight  such  counsels  might  have  had  at  an- 
other time,  my  Imsband  could  not,  under  the  pre- 
seii^  circumstances,  leave  the  army,  or  ask  a  fur- 
lough. 

In  the  spring  of  1781.  I  established  myself  on 
Long-Island,  where,  notwithstanding  the  loneli- 
ness of  our  situation,  we  might  have  lived  agreea- 
bly, had  we  not  been  often  disturbed  by  the  Ame- 
ricans as  soon  as  the  river  was  thawed.    They 


\ 


h. 


:# 


# 


^• 


* 


4^ 


••vr— 


0,.-.y 


'iSC^^ 


"WW.. 


A 


250 

frequently  attempted  surprises,  and  actually  cai- 
ried  away  from  his  bed  major  Maybaum  ;  and  wo 
knew  that  they  had  meditated  something  like  it 
against  my  husband.  Our  house  being  on  the 
shore,  and  insulated,  all  they  had  to  do,  was  to 
surprise  the  sentries.  Great  vigilance  was,  there- 
fore, indispensable  j  the  general  was  awakened  by 
the  least  noise ;  and  in  this  way  his  restlessness 
during  the  night  augmented ;  and  I  also  became 
so  much  accustomed  to  such  interruptions  of  my 
repose,  that  I  did  not  often  close  my  eyes  before 
daybreak.  Such  were  the  apprehensions  and  ter- 
rors of  my  husband,  lest  he  should  again  be  made 
prisoner,  that  he  never  yielded  to  sleep  when  1 
slumbered. 

The  prospect  from  our  house  was  extremely 
beautiful.  In  the  evening,  the  city  illuminated 
by  numerous  lamps,  was  reflected  from  the  river, 
while  the  stillness  of  the  night  rendered  audible  not 
only  the  drums,  bui  the  challenges  of  the  sentries. 
For  our  communications  with  New-York,  we  had 
a  boat,  and  we  generally  went  thither  in  about 
fifteen  minutes. 

One  day,  I  discovered  from  my  window,  a  squad- 
ron of  five  and  thirty  sail; — shortly  after  I  sfiw, 
from  another  window,  that  they  had  cast  f^lcho1 
between  us  and  the  city. 

My  husband  had  many  English  troops  under  his 


..»'.  -,..^i.w^  . 


• 
f 


ictually  car- 
jm ;  and  we 
hing  like  it 
&ing  on  the 
►  do,  was  to 

was,  there- 
Lwakened  by 

restlessness 
also  became 
>tions  of  my 
eyes  before 
ons  and  ter- 
ain  be  made 
ileep  when  1 

s  extremely 
illuminated 
m  the  river, 
1  audible  not 
the  sentries, 
ork,  we  had 
er  in  about 

ow,  a  squad- 
ifter  I  saw, 
cast  i^choi 

3S  under  his 


.#- 


■>> 


r 


251  • 

command,  and  among  them  the  light  dragoons. 
Although  the  British  military  are  proud,  and,  a.c- 
cording  to  common  belief,  difficult  to  keep  in  sub- 
mission, my  husband  was  a  great  favourite  with 
them.  One  day,  when  the  British  officers  had 
(lined  with  us,  my  husband  told  them,  that  he 
would  accompany  them  to  their  camp;  upon 
which  they  begged  me  to  do  them  the  same  ho- 
nour. I  got  into  my  carriage,  and  reached  the 
camp  before  them.  But  I  can  hardly  believe  that 
they  had  not  given  the  other  officers  notice  of  my 
visit ;  for  scarcely  had  I  reached  the  place,  when 
one  of  them  came  to  my  carriage,  handed  me  out, 
and  begged  me  to  walk  with  him  along  the  line. 
To  my  utter  confusion,  I  was  greeted  with  all  the 
military  honours ;  and  when  I  observed  to  the 
officer,  that  German  ladies  were  not  accustomed 
to  such  distinctions,  he  gallantly  replied,  that  this 
was  merely  the  due  of  the  wife  of  an  excellent 
general,  and  that  nobody  in  his  corps  had  forgot- 
ten how  kind  I  had  been  to  their  brethren  at  Sa- 
ratoga. I  confess,  that  however  flattering  and 
encouraging  all  this  was,  I  felt  glad  when  I  could 
withdraw  from  this  exhibition  of  exaggerated  re- 
spect.       ^ 

Th«*e  were  many  wounded  and  sick  sailors  in 
our  hospital.  These  good  people  thus  answered 
the  usual   expressions  of  sympathy :  "  We  have 


#; 


V 


•li 


■-4<iJi- 


tPsT  •■»" 


*^  ^ 


\ 


\    • 


I 


.i^ 


f»' 


(f 


i  "i ;  -^ .'.% 


-l: 


Ir 


». 

■0» 


4  • 


^    252 


fought  for  our  king,  and  are  glad  of  it ;  and  when 
once  in  Greenwich,  we  shall  be  abundantly  re- 
warded." Greenwich,  near  London,  is  an  excel- 
lent hospital,  for  disabled  seaman,  where  they  are 
attended,  clothed,  and  supplied  with  all  the  con- 
veniences of  life. 

About  this  time,  general  Phillips  was  sent  on  an 
expedition  to  Carolina.  We  parted  with  mutual 
regret.  We  never  saw  again  this  excellent  friend, 
for  he  died  of  a  fever,  which  originated  in  a  cold, 
that  he  caught  by  imprudent  exposure.  We  have 
always  deplored  his  loss,  for  he  was  truly  a  most 
benevolent  man. 

My  husband's  health  mended  slowly,  and  hip 
thoughts  being  often  fixed  upon  the  remnant  of  his 
late  regiments,  which  had  remained  in  Canada, 
general  Clinton,  at  length,  consented  that  he 
should  pay  them  a  visit,  and  have  thus  an  oppor- 
tunity of  being  useful  to  them.  He  separated, 
however,  with  reluctance,  from  a  friend  to  whom 
he  felt  so  sincerely  attached.  Their  intimacy, 
however,  continued  uninterrupted  as  long  as- gene- 
ral Clinton  lived.  Being  about  to  depart  in  July, 
1781,  I  sent  the  residue  of  our  wood  (about  thirty 
cords)  to  the  poor,  and  to  a  family  who  had  suffered 
much  for  the  royal  cause,  and  was,  at  last,  compelled 
to  emigrate,  though  I  could  have  sold  it  at  a  great 
price ;  and  I  contemplated  leaving  the  furniture,  but 


ki.: 


and  when 
dantly  re- 
un  excel- 
e  they  are 
I  the  con- 
sent on  an 
ith  mutual 
ent  friend, 
I  in  a  cold, 
We  have 
uly  a  most 

y,  and  hip 

mant  of  his 

in  Canada, 

[I   that   he 

an  oppor- 

separated, 

d  to  whom 

intimacy, 

ig  asgene- 

irt  in  July, 

30ut  thirty 

ad  suffered 

compelled 

at  a  great 

niture,  but 


253 


i^      'a 


% 


wo  were  told  that  it  belonged  to  us,  and  were  ad- 
vised to  carry  it  to  Canada,  where  we  might  need 
it.  But  fearful  of  abusing  so  much  kindness,  we 
kept  only  a  few  articles,  nnd  returned  the  rest  to 
the  commissary  of  the  army.  I  must  confess,  that 
I  afterwards  regretted  that  I  had  done  it,  not 
only  because  we  were  in  want  of  every  thing  in 
Canada,  but  because  the  splendid  royal  magazine 
of  furniture  was  plundered  and  burnt  by  the  Ame- 
ricans. .'•  • 

We  embarked  at  last,  but  remained  more  than 
a  week  at  anchor,  abcut  three  miles  from  New- 
York.    The  transport  ngent,  whom  general  Clinton 
had  commissioned     >  retair  for  us  a  ship,  he  be- 
lieved to  be  an  active  and  i  itclligent  man,  and  he 
had  ordered  him  to  choi>se  the  best   and   most 
Cast-sailing  vessel,  io  <  nable  us  to  escape  the  pur- 
suit of  pirates.     '1  tie  good  intentions  of  the  ge- 
aer'd,  like   those  of    many  other    well-meaning 
chiefs,  were,  however,  disregarded  by  the  commis- 
sionej',  who  was  not  less  lazy  than  ignorant  and  in- 
solent.    He    had  eitlua*   not   examined  the  ship 
which  he  had  chosen  for  our  passage,  or  he  had 
been  bribed  by  the  captain,  which  is  not  uncom- 
mon  among    these   people.     We    embarked   on 
board  ori'"  of  the  smallest  and  worst-conditioned 
ships  of  tlic  whole  convoy.     She  sailed  so  slow, 
fliat  we  were  frc(j[uently  in  danger  of  being  left 


OD 


•if 


■  .wi  |7.Tr.-^r  ■.. -:-v-%r'-  .At^ 


W-.JV.i----   •       "•'T',   ,1V,« 


254 


,5^ 


..?- 


•I-.. 


behind,  had  not  the  commander  of  the  second 
armed  vessel  appointed  for  the  protection  of  the 
convoy,  come  to  our  assistance  by  towing  the 
ship.  This  was  not,  however,  without  inconve- 
nience and  danger  to  us,  for  the  ships  might  have 
run  afoul,  and  if  a  pirate  had  then  given  us  chase, 
we  should  have  been  between  the  opposite  fires. 
Besides,  we  had  but  few  sailors,  and  the  ship  be- 
ing leaky,  we  had  not  hands  enough  to  work  her, 
and  to  manage  the  pumps,  whenever  the"  wind 
suddenly  changed.  As  little  care  had  the  captain 
taken  with  regard  to  the  lading,  and  we  were 
often  obliged,  on  our  passage,  to  increase  our  bal- 
last, by  filling  our  empty  barrels  with  sea-wate^. 
The  agent  was  ill-bred  and  cross-grained,  and 
made  such  a  noise  with  his  yawnings,  that  we  were 
often  awakened,  though  separated  from  his  cabin 
by  a  partition  of  boards.  The  worst  of  it  was, 
that  we  were  obliged  to  have  him  at  our  table, 
and  to  treat  him  like  a  gentleman.  Before  wc 
embarked,  we  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  our  good 
negro  servants, — a  man,  his  wife,  and  a  young 
srirl  related  to  them.  Their  master,  from  whom 
they  had  been  taken  by  the  rights  of  wai',  he  be- 
ing a  rebel,  having  redeemed  them,  under  the  pre- 
tence that  he  now  was  devoted  to  the  royal.cause. 
Besides  that  diey  were  extremely  attached  to  us. 
their  mar-tor  liad   treated   tlirm  l)adly :  the  poor 


41 


.% 


i'\<„i^.'. 


^aTH 


■  a;,..>i;' 


the  second 
;tion  of  the 
towing  the 
ut  inconve- 
might  have 
en  us  chase, 
posite  fires, 
the  ship  be- 
to  work  her, 
r  the' wind 
the  captain 
id  we  were 
ase  our  bal- 
h  sea-wate^;. 
trained,  and 
tiiat  we  were 
om  his  cabin 
jt  of  it  was, 
at  our  tabic, 

Before  wc 
ose  our  good 
md  a  young 

from  whom 
f  war,  he  be- 
nder the  prc- 
I  royal.causc. 
ichcd  to  us, 
ly:  the  poor 


255 

people,  therefore,  were  in  great  dread  of  the  suf- 
ferings that  awaited  them.  The  little  girl,  whose 
name  was  Phyllis,  would  not  part  with  us,  and 
fainted  away  :  when  she  recovered,  she  threw  her- 
self at  my  feet,  and  clung  to  them  so  fast,  that  it 
was  necessary  to  withdraw  her  by  force.  My  hus- 
band offered  to  buy  her :  but  the  owner,  seeing 
how  glad  we  should  be  to  have  hrs  slaves,  ask- 
ed thirty  guineas  for  each  of  them,  which  we 
thought  an  exorbitant  price.  Had  it  not  been  at 
the  moment  of  our  departure,  we  might  have 
bought  them.  We  left  them  the  clothing  and  the 
beds,  with  which  we  had  provided  them  ;  and  this, 
instead  of  gratifying  them,  served  but  to  increase 
their  sorrow.  Phyllis  cried,  "  If  I  live,  I  will  join 
you,  were  it  at  the  end  of  the  world."  She  after- 
terwards  begged  several  persons  to  permit  her  to 
accompany  them,  until  they  siiould  meet  us,  say- 
ing, "  My  lady  will  be  glad  to  pay  my  passage." 
She  was  perfectly  right  in  saying  so,  but  as  our 
intentions  could  not  be'  generally  known,  nobody 
was  willing  to  trust  to  her  words.  My  husband 
would  have  paid  the  price  her  owner  demanded 
for  her,  but  to  buy  all  the  three,  was,  at  that  time, 
beyond  our  pecuniary  means.  We  had  after- 
ward.-' so  much  trouble  with  our  maid-servants  in 
Canada,  and  found  it  so  difficult  to  procure  any, 
that  we  would  gladly  have  made  any  sacrifice  to 
have  our  three  good  negroes  again,  at  any  price. 


■>  -i; 


l*^"^'- 


..<* 


'm 


256 

From  the  first  day  of  our  voyage,  a  distiemper 
which  I  had  caught  shortly  after  having  weaned 
my  little  girl,  disappeared  ;  but  I  was  long  after- 
wards the  worse  for  it,  the  germ  of  my  indispo- 
sition having  only  changed  its  seat.  I  suffered  so 
much,  that  even  laudanum  could  not  procure  me 
sleep.  In  this  state,  I  continued  during  our  whole 
voyage.  .     '  ^ 

We  had,  besides,  many  untoward  accidents. 
In  the  Dusky-Bay,  during  dark  weather,  we  were 
nigh  running  upon  a  dangerous  rock,  called  the 
Old  Woman.  Happily  the  weather  cleared  up, 
and  the  captain  discovered  the  danger  in  which 
we  were,  soon  enough  to  apply  to  the  command- 
er of  the  armed  ship,  who  towed  us;  and,  fa- 
voured by  the  wind,  we  were  in  Ifceis  than  h^If 
an  hour  out  of  our  perilous  situation.  We  touch- 
ed at  Halifax,  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  met  with 
a  very  kind  reception  from  the  governor  and  his 
lady,  who  were  both  very  obliging,  and  invited  us 
to  dinner.  They  had  a  Very  agreeable  conipany, 
consisting  of  seven  or  eight  families,  who  lived  in 
continual  intercourse.  On  the  following  day,  they 
accompanied  us  through  the  city,  and  showed  us 
the  environs  which  we  greatly  admired.  The 
living  in  Halifax  is  very  cheap.  Salt  water  fish 
are  here  remarkably  fine  ;  and  there  was  a  strange 
story  about  lobsters  being   found  in  abundance 


■#• 


■■'-*mt'^-' 


a  distiemper 
ng  weaned 

long  after- 
my  indispo- 

suffered  so 
procure  me 
g  our  whole 

accidents. 
3r,  we  were 

called  the 
cleared  up, 
er  in  which 
e  command- 
is;  and,  fa> 
:js  than  h^If 
We  touch- 
i  met  with 
nor  and  his 
id  invited  us 
le  conipany, 
ivho  lived  in 
ng  day,  they 
I  showed  us 
lired.  The 
t  water  fish 
as  a  strange 
abundance 


/  .  ■  1. 


257 

since  the  revolution,  though  previous  to  that  time 
none  had  ever  been  seen  so  far  north.  The  wits 
of  Nova  Scotia  said  that  the  lobsters  were  good 
royalists,  not  only  in  their  outward  appearance, 
but  in  their  feehngs. 

During  the  latter  part  of  our  voyage,  we  expe- 
rienced several  squalls.  We  were  obliged  to  cast 
anchor  every  evening,  on  account  of  the  tide. 
We  lost  two  anchors,  while  lying  near  a  rock,  and 
the  security  of  our  vessel  depended  upon  our  last 
anchor,  which  was  the  smallest.  We  were  so 
badly  provided  with  victuals,  that  we  were  obliged 
to  send  a  boat  on  shore  for  some  eggs  and  poul- 
try. My  husband  determined  that  we  should 
leave  the  vessel  on  the  following  evening ;  and,  as 
soon  as  we  had  anchored,  he,  his  two  aids-de-camp, 
the  servants,  and  myself,  went  ashore  in  the  long 
boat.  We  put  up  at  the  house  of  a  peasant,  who 
received  us  very  kindly. 

My  husband  departed  the  same  evening,  with 
one  of  his  aids-de-camp,  for  Quebec.  I  set  out 
in  the  same  direction  the  next  morning,  and 
reached  Quebec  on  the  third  day.  The  country 
through  which  we  passed,  was  very  picturesque. 
Each  family  lives  in  a  separate  -u;jse,  which  t*hey 
whitewash  once  a  year.  This  gives  to  the  Cana- 
dian village  an  appearance  of  great  ueatness  and 

22* 


'"'W^^^^' 


■  ,l^)niK%<^.-'- 


V 

^ 


■  ^♦^  *•   . 


258 


makes  them  visible  from  a  considerable  distance. 
The  space  around  each  house  is  successively  .filled 
up  by  the  settlements,  which  the  young  people  on 
their  marriages  make  around  their  parents.  They 
call  themselves  on  that  account  "  habitans"  or 
settlers,  and  not  peasants.  Each  habitation  has 
its  own  stables,  garden  and  pasturage  :  and  scat- 
tered along  the  banks  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  they 
contribute  much  to  the  romantic  aspect  of  the 
scene.  The  ice  cellars,  of  which  there  is  one 
near  each  house,  and  commonly  in  the  barns,  are 
of  an  easy  construction.  A  hole  is  dug  and  lined 
with  planks ;  ice  and  water  are  thrown  into  it, 
until  it  is  filled  up  to  the  surface,  whiwh  shine^' 
like  a  mirror,  and  clean  boards  are  thrown  over  it 
to  support  the  victuals  which  are  intended  to  be 
preserved.  The  Canadians  think  that  straw  or 
hay  are  particularly  apt  .to  impede  the  congela- 
tion, and  they  therefore  take  great  care  to  have 
the  water  very  pure.  The  villagers  could  not  dis- 
pense with  ice  cellars,  as  each  family  kills  the 
cattle  necessary  for  their  consumption,  and  as  the 
weather  is  very  hot,  during  a  considerable  part  of 
the  ^ear. 

During  the  summer  they  feed  much  cattle,  which 
they  kill,  at  the  beginning  of  the  winter,  for  the 
consumption  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  cities.  The 
few  beasts,  which  are  kept  through  the  winter. 


'^^.::j>«*^.||U-.^-«*<!v  » 


^I'^L^W" 


'i»i,--:'^ft-'?^T'"  .".""^(r;.  V^.fF-i'  ;*v'"^'  ■''■■"' 


,«y  ■■■*'. 


1 


259 


1  'm^^ 


(oxen,  calves  and  hogs,)  are  driven  into  the 
forests  to  seek  their  subsistence,  and  are  provided 
with  food  in  the  stables,  only  vi^hen  they  are 
brought  in  towards  evening.  The  Canadians 
catch  from  under  the  frozen  river,  a  small  species 
of  fish,  which  they  call  small  cod.  To  catch  them 
they  break  the  ice,  at  intervals  of  three  or  four 
hundred  steps,  and  introduce  tiheir  nets  into  these 
holes,  having  first  fastened  them  with  strong  ropes 
to  long  poles.  They  sometimes  carry  home  five 
or  six  sledges  full  of  fish  caught  in  this  manner, 
and  keeping  them  in  ice,  they  never  want  a  good 
dish,  during  the  winter. 

The  houses  of  the  villagers  are  very  commo- 
dious, and  in  all  of  them  you  may  be  sure  of  find- 
ing clean  and  good  beds  with  curtains.  They 
have  no  bed  chambers,  but  sleep  in  their  largest 
rooms.  Their  stoves,  which  are  proportioned  to 
the  size  of  the  rooms,  serve  them  instead  of 
kitchens.  The  soups  they  eat  are  very  nourish- 
ing, and  generally  consist  of  fresh  meat,  vegeta- 
bles and  pork,  all  boiled  together ;  but  they  have 
no  second  dish.  They  make  sugar  from  the  ma- 
ple, which  they  t'herefore  call  sugar  maple.  In  the 
spring  they  go  into  the  woods  with  pots  and  ket- 
tles to  collect  Ihe  liquor,  which  is  obtained  from 
incisions  made  in  the  tree.  They  afterwards  boil 
it,  and  the  upper  part  of  it  is  the  besi.     This 


■^m 


i 


a- 


lyjse' 


260 


"«■■ 


%■ 


P 


■•%■ 
•t 


J 


.  * 


I 

f 


sugar  differs  from  that  made  from  the  sugar  cane, 
chiefly  in  its  colour,  which  is  brown,  and  is  con- 
sideretl  as  a  good  pectoral. 

The  Caiiudians  are  hospitable  and  cheerful; 
kiiey  sing  '  nd  smoke  the  whole  day.  Many  ot 
ihfj  Vi'^'tnei)  i'.''.ve  wens  or  "goitres,"  but  generally 
the  Canadians  are  a  healthy  people  and  live  to  a 
great  age.  It  is  not  rare  to  find  among  them,  a 
great-grandf'Uher  who  dwells  with  his  descend- 
ants, arm  is  tne  object  of  their  kindest  attentions. 

After  u  journey  of  about  two  months,  from  the 
time  we  had  left  New- York,  we  reached  Quebec, 
in  the  middle  of  September,  1781,  and  met  with  a 
friendly  reception.  My  husband  soon  won  the 
affections  of  the  governor  of  the  province,  lieute- 
nant-general Haldimand,  who  was  also  command- 
er-in-chief of  the  troops  in  Canada,  though  he  had 
been  described  to  us  as  a  man  of  untractable 
temper.  He  was  not  only  civil  to  me,  but  showed 
me  much  friendly  regard,  and  continued  to  do  so 
until  his  death.  Several  persons  endeavoured  to 
make  us  distrustful  of  him,  but  instead  of  listening 
1.0  such  insinuations,  we  behaved  towards  him 
with  openness  and  frankness,  dfnd  this  pleased 
him  so  much  the  more,  as  he  rarely  met  with 
such  behaviour.  The  governor's  Jiouse  which 
had  been  like  a  barrack,  was  now  furnished  in  the 
English  style,  and  though  general  Haldimand  had 


<! 


sugar  cane, 

and  is  con- 
id  cheerful; 
Many  of 

ut  generally 
and  live  to  a 
long  them,  a 

lis  descend- 
t  attentions, 
ths,  from  the 
hed  Quebec, 
id  met  with  a 
)on  won  the 
vince,  lieute- 
so  command- 
lough  he  had 
F  untractable 
J,  but  showed 
lued  to  do  so 
ideavoured  to 
d  of  listening 
towards  him 
this  pleased 
ily  met  witii 
Iiouse  which 
nished  in  the 
Udimand  had 


,»**• 


#-  , 


.     261 

f  '    • 
been  in  Quebec,  hurt  five  years,  his  gardens  were 

already  full  of  fruit  trees  and  exotic  plants,  which 

it  would  have  been  impossible  to  preserve  in  that 

climate,  had  he  not  judiciously  chosen  for  them,  a 

place  where  they  had  the  benefit  of  a  southern 

exposure.     The  house  was  seated  on  an  eminence, 

and  quite  on  its  summit.    We  remained  four  weeks 

at  Quebec,  during  which  interval,  the  governor 

went  with  Mr.  de  Riedesel  to  Sorel,  where  he  was 

to  be  stationed.     He  expressed  on  that  occasion 

his  regret  at  the  unccunfortable  quarters  we  should 

occupy  at  Sorel,  but  said  that  considering  the 

military-  importance  of  that  point,  he  thought  it 

his  duty  to  entrust  it  only  to  the  surest  hands.     As 

it  was  impossible  to  have  an  entirely  new  house 

built  for  us  immediately,  the  governor  bought  one 

that  had  been  begun,  but  of  which  the  walls  only 

were  as  yet  finished.     He  ordered  that  it  should 

be  ready  towards  Christmas,  and  desired  us  to 

settle  the  manner  in  which  the  rooms  should  be 

distributed ;  while  the  building  went  on,  we  lodged 

with  one  of  the  inhabitants.     We  gave  our  plan 

of  building,  and  to  our  great  surprise,  found  our- 

selvt  s  able  to  eat  our  Christmas-pie  in  our  new 

house,  though  the  trees  for  the  construction  of  it 

were  not  felled  till  after  we  had  arrived,  and  no 

planks  were  yet  ready.     The  walls  were  covered 

with  coloured  paper,  and  the  whole  house  was 


*• 


^,. 


"'  ■!  /•  ■ 


"k^.-- 


\; 


*.      w 


'V 


;  *• 


•I 


262 

very  neat.     We  had  a  large  dining-room  ;  n6xt  to 
which  was  Mr.  de   Riedesel's  study;  then  catne 
our  bed-room  and    ^hat  of  the  children,  with  a 
.    separate   closet    for    my   eldest  daughter ;    and 
lastly,  a  second  large  and  fine  room,  where  we 
received  company.     The  entry  was  not  much  dif- 
ferent from  a  spacious  saloon.     Along  the  v.'alls 
0  were  benches,  and  in  one  corner  was  a  large  stove 
•  with  pipes,  by  means  of  which  the  whole  house 
was  warmed.     The  u[)pcr  story  consisted  of  four 
rooms,  two  of  which  were  for  our  servants  and  the 
two  others  for  visitors  ^ 

In  the  spring  of  1782,  two  covered  galleries 
were  added,  which  led  to  the  kitchen  and  tl^e 
wash-house,  in  the  upper  story  of  which  was  the 
guard-room.  Our  house  was  out  of  the  town,  and 
so  near  the  outposts,  that  Mr.  de  Riedesel,  for  fear 
of  a  surprise  had  six  men  always  watching  in  the 
entrance-hall  during  the  night.  The  stove  kept 
the  house  so  warm,  that  we  had  no  reason  to  com- 
plain of  the  rigours  of  a  Canadian  winter ;  but  the 
walls  began  to  warp,  by  which  our  neat  paper- 
hanging  was  considerably  injured.  "  • 

In  the  summer  of  1782,' general  Riedesel  made 
a  journey  of  three  weeks,  during  which  interval, 
the  English  artizans,  who.  according  to  the  go- 
vernor's direction,  were  all  at  our  command,  lent, 
,   at  my  request,  their  aid  to  the  completion  of  our 


cstabli£ 

painter 

pairing 

doors,  I 

band  f 

good  o 

though 

were  n 

except 

gentler 

sures  w 

by  the 

inand, 

to  pass 

at  eacl 

bine,  o 

ways  < 

the  ev 

often  1 

the  be 

was  c 

who  v 

the  nil 

The 

Montr 

assure 

spent 

[  wer 


■■•T'*^*^!**-"' 


■    .'I     ' 

.     .  ■  - '      ■♦' 


)m ;  n^xt  to 
then  came 

ren,  with  a 

hter ;  and 
where  we 

>t  much  dif- 

• 

the  v.alls 

large  stove 

v^hole  house 

ted  of  four 

ints  and  the 

ed  galleries 
en  and  tl^e 
lich  was  the 
le  town,  and 
Bsel,  for  fear 
3hing  in  the 
3  stove  kept 
ison  to  com- 
ter ;  but  the 
neat  paper- 

idesel  made 
ch  interval, 
to  the  go- 
imand,  lent, 
tion  of  our 


s  h 


263 


establishment.  Carpenters,  upholsterers,  and 
painters  were  busy  in  adjusting  the  walls,  in  .s- 
pairing  the  paper-hanging,  and  painting  tlie  room- 
doors,  chairs,  and  tables.  On  bis  return,  niy  hus- 
band found,  to  his  great  surprise,  every  thing  in 
good  order  again,  and,  as  it  were,  a  new  house, 
though  the  expense  was  trifling,  as  the  mechanics 
ivere  not  permitted  to  receive  anything  from  mc 
except  their  daily  food.  Our  only  visiters  were 
gentlemen.  The  deficiencies  of  our  social  plea- 
sures were,  however,  in  some  measure  compensated 
by  the  invitations  we  received  from  general  Haldi- 
mand,  during  both  winters  we  spent  in  Canada, 
to  pass  some  time  in  Quebec,  where  we  remained, 
at  each  time,  six  weeks,  at  the  house  of  Dr.  Ma- 
bine,  one  of  the  general's  intimate  fr'ends,  but  al- 
ways dined  with  the  general.  The  general  spent 
the  evenings  at  our  house,  played  at  cards,  and 
often  remained  until  I  o'clock ;  but  he  had  from 
the  beginning  begged  rne  to  retire,  whenever  it 
was  convenient  to  mysei'  I  never  saw  a  man 
who  was  so  kind  and  obliging  to  his  friends,  in 
the  number  of  which  he  soon  included  us. 

The  next  spring  he  invited  us  to  meet  him  at 
Montreal,  whither  his  duties  called  him,  and  he 
assured  us,  upon  that  occasion,  that  he  never 
spent  his  time  more  agreeably  than  in  our  society. 
I  went  to  Montreal  '•     "  ".ledge,  remained  tlierc  u 


^  \- 


\ 

■^^i) 

■\% 


■i 


'I     >1 


\\ 


*t.,\ 


V'-  f 


!f   ^ 


S<f 


r 


"ft- 


^ 


i      >- 


■JK 


■«* 


week,  and  returned  in  the  sarti6  Isoiiveyfencp 
though  I  was  not  aware  at  that  time  how  perilvus 
it  then  was  to  travel  upon  the  St.  Lawrence, 
which  had  begun  to  thaw,  so  much  so,  indeed, 
that  the  ice  was  already  covered  with  water. 
Our  Canadian  drivers  seemed  uneasy;  yet  they 
would  not  leave  the  sleigh-track,  which  was 
marked  by  beacons,  for  fear  of  running' great- 
er risks  on  tlie  sides  of  them.  We,  however, 
reached  Sorel  in  safety,  and  the  next  morning,  a 
ship  made  her  way  swiftly  through  the  river,  over 
which  wc  had  travelled  in  sledges  the  preceding 
evening.  The  winter  season  is  very  healthy  in 
Canada,  owing  to  the  steadiness  of  the  wc;  her, 
and  the  abundance  of  means  to  provide  against 
the  cold,  in  the  inierior  of  the  dwellings.  In  the 
beginning  of  November,  every  family  provides  its 
winter  stock.  I  stared,  when  I  was  asked  how 
laany  fowls  anu  nsli  I  wi.-li*^(?  to  have  for  the  sea- 
son. I  asked,  i:  ly  turn,  \v  here  I  was  to  keep  the 
fish'?  "In  the  gni'-et,"  was  the  answer;  "and 
you  will  better  prt  jrve  them  there,  than  in  the 
cellar."  I  bought  three  <•'  ^our  hundred,  and  they 
kept  fresh  during  the  wh(.»  winter,  and  the  only 
tiling  necessary  to  render  our  meat,  eggs,  fish, 
apples,  and  lemons  fit  for  daily  use,  was  to  lay 
them  in  water  twenty-four  hours  previous;  and  all 
our  victuals  were  as  succulent  and  fresh,  as  in  any 


0 


■■*u 


i 

..■?.^-: 

1  >f^ 
% 

.' 

- 

.4 

«. 


'^■ 


'::f; 


jm. 


\ 


vide  njxainat 


265 


»^ 


other  season.  Poultry  are  besides  laid  in  snow, 
which  soon  becomes  an  icy  crust,  and  so  hard, 
that  it  must  be  broken  with  an  axe.      'j^ 

The  Canadians  have  a  fruit  which  they  call  ot- 
tocas.     It  grows  in  the  water,  is  red,  and  of  the 
size  of  a  small  cherry.     It  is  commonly  brought 
to  market  by  the   Indians,   and   makes   a  good 
sweetmeat,   especially    when    it    has  been  well- 
frozen.     All  other  kinds  of  fruit  are  very  scarce, 
though  in  Montreal  excellent  apples  can  be  had, 
— French  Reinettes,  and  a  sort  of  large  red  and 
highly-flavoured  apple,  which  the  Canadians  call 
Bourrassas.      They   are  put   for  preservation   in 
small  and  close-stopped  barrels ;  for,  once  opened, 
they  cannot  be  kept  much  longer.     The   other 
fruits  that  can  be  had,  are  very  costly,  especially 
pears,  which  are  more  scarce  than  apples,  and 
cannot  be  so  well  preserved.     I  ordered  six  tons 
of  apples,  and  half  a  ton  of  pears.     My  astonish- 
ment, when  I  was  asked  to  pay  for  them  twenty- 
one  guineas,  will  be  easily  imagined.     By  my  hus- 
band's direction,  a  large  spot,  in  the  rear  of  our 
house,  was  laid  out  in  a  garden,  and  twelve  hun- 
dred fruit  trees  were  planted,  by  which  method  we 
could  hope  to  unite  the  agreeable  with  the  useful. 
Vegetables,  also,  which  were  very  scarce  in  the 
country,  prospered  wonderfully  in  our  garden, 

23 


A" 


"^i^d 


•^-*»-^-%Sc... 


t*ti'-. 


•   • 


^ 


''  ( 


% 


^-#«^^* 


% 


-i?*:- 


^i'sac. 


isiSSfc:^*  fj**^' 


J^^a.^-;*^  ■  -'^vg^.*:^- 


.**c3S::"-. 


/ 


^^■^S^. 


266 


.f 


i'^^^S 


\ 


^ 


"#f 


^(q* 


ami  not  only  general  Haidimand,  but  all  my  ac- 
quaintances were  supplied  by  us.  ?cv 

My  oHtablishment  was  like  a  large,  ornamented 
farm.  I  had  cows,  poultry  in  vast  numbers,  Vir- 
ginia hogs,  which  nre  black,  smaller,  and  more 
short-legged  than  those  in  Europe,  and  I  made 
my  own  butter.  For  the  soldiers  this  was  the 
promised  land.  Every  thing  appeared  to  be  in  a 
thriving  istate  around  their  barracks  and  in  their 
gardens,  for  which  my  husband  had  provided 
them  wil!i  seeds.  It  was  amusing  to  see  them 
employed  in  their  domestic  pursuits  and  cookery. 
They  exchanged  half  their  rations  of  salt  meat  for 
fresh ;  and  having  thus  two  kinds,  they  boiled  it  |n 
large  kettles,  with  all  sorts  of  vegetables.  There 
was  much  emulation  among  them  to  excel  in  the 
culinary  art.  However,  the  several  domestic  duties 
were  very  regularly  divided.  Some  attended  to 
the  garden,  while  others  did  the  business  of  the 
kitchen  ;  some  had  charge  to  clean  the  barracks, 
and  others  to  cut  wood,  and  to  carry  home  their 
provision  of  fuel,  in  little  carts  made  for  that  pur- 
pose. ./^; 

Mr.  de  Riedesel  had  nets  made,  and  each  com- 
pany went  at  times  to  fish :  they  were  always  so 
civil  as  to  send  us  a  part  of  what  they  caught. 
They,  thus,  had  fish  twice  or  thrice  a  week ;  and 
once  every  six  days,  they  received  a  bottle  of  rum, 


t 


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i 


t  V 


ill 


w 


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;V"':>^,<^;     ■'  ■••■■■  f-'~-%t     tsw.-ri. 


&r**5^*^*v;] 


^ 


2«7 


their  rations  of  rice  and  butter,  twelve  p  >um)  <  of 
wheat  flour  for  their  bread,  and  daily  a  pouii  of 
salt  pork  or  one  pound  and  a  half  of  beef;  but 
notwithstanding  this,  they  Hent  many  fund  and 
longing  thoughts  to  their  own  country. 

There  were,  also,  Indiana  under  my  husband's 
command.  His  uprightness  hud  gained  their  con- 
fidence, and  they  were  very  much  attached  to  him. 
Before  I  had,  on  my  first  arrival  in  Canada,  rejoined 
my  husband,  one  of  these  savages,  by  the  name 
of  Hansel,  having  heard  that  Mr.  de  Riedesel  was 
ill,  that  he  was  married,  and  felt  uneasy  on  ac- 
count of  the  delayed  arrival  of  his  wife,  came 
with  his  wife  to  my  husband,  and  told  him, 
"  Hear  !  I  love  my  wife  ;  but  I  lovo  thee  also :  in 
proof  of  which  I  give  her  to  thee !"  Mr.  de 
Riedesel  replied,  "  I  thank  thee,  and  acknow- 
ledge thy  attachment,  but  I  have  a  wife  whom  I 
also  love,  and  beg  thee  to  keep  thy  own."  The 
man  seemed  distressed  and  almost  offended  at  this 
refusal,  and  he  could  hardly  be  persuaded  to  carry 
his  wife  back,  who,  as  having  seen  her  afterwards, 
I  can  testify  was  very  pretty.  Hansel  was  not  an 
Indian  by  birth,  but  a  German,  who,  with  several 
of  his  countrymen,  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  sa- 
vages, when  he  was  about  fifteen  years  of  age. 
All  his  countrymen  were  killed,  and  his  escape 
from  the  same  fate,  was  owing  to  his  imposing  sta- 


■!i^Vj 


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ture,  and  the  respect  with  which  he  had  inspired 
the  Indians  by  his  valiant  defence.     They,  how- 
ever, saved  him  from^death  only  on  condition  that: 
■m  he  should  be  wedded  to  an  Indian  woman,  and 

adopt  their   customs  and   habits.     This  he  did. 
The  life  of  the  savage  must  have  many  attractions, 
for  a  nephew  of  general  Carleton  lived  long  among 
them,  became  husband  to  an  Indian  girl,  and 
grew  so  fondly  attached  to  that  roving,  but  free 
and  careless  life,  that  many  years  passed  before  he 
could  be  persuaded,  by  the  repeated  and  earnest 
entreaties  of  his  uncle,  to  rejoin  him.     He  after- 
•   ^      wards   married    the    general's    sister-in»>kiw,    an 
agreeable  and  amiable  young  lady ;  but  it  was  ge- 
nerally said  that  he  repined  at  the  change,  and 
remembered   his   wild  companions  and  his  wife 
with  fond  yearnings.     He  served  in  the  British  ar- 
my, (I  believe  with  the  rank  of  major,)  and  was  a 
^v,.  .        very  polite  gentleman.     I  saw,  at  that  time,  the 
•<^#      famous  Indian  chief,  captain  Brandt,  of  whom 
there  is  a  print.     The  natural  talent  and  ability 
f'^U-  which  he  exhibited  when  a  boy,  led  general  Carle- 
'''^.   ton  to  send  him  to  England,  when  he  had  the  good 
fortune  to  please  the  king  so  much,  that  his  ma- 
jesty provided  for  his  education  and  maintenance. 
He  made  some  progress  in  his  studies,  but  when 
he  was  between  twenty  and  twenty-four,  he  express- 
ed a  strong  desire  to  be  sent  back  to  his  early  coro.^ 

;  :■■■  ^ 


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t 


j«*V>-i,^Pfci,^. 


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panions.  At  the  time  we  were  in  Canada,  he  was 
the  principal  leader  of  the  Indians.  His  manners 
were  polished ;  he  expressed  himself  with  fluency, 
and  was  much  esteemed  by  general  Haldimand. 
I  dined  once  with  him  at  the  general's.  In  his 
dress,  he  showed  off  to  advantage  tiie  half  mili- 
tary and  half  savage  costume.  His  countenance 
was  manly  and  intelligent,  and  his  disposition  very 
mild.  Mr.  de  Riedesel  was  once  invited  to  a 
meeting  of  the  Indians,  where  after  a  solemn 
speech  had  been  addressed  to  him,  he  was  in- 
vited to  take  a  seat  and  to  smoke.  The  present- 
ing of  the  pipe  is,  among  them,  a  mark  of  great 
respect  and  of  affection.  They  gave  him  a  name 
in  their  own  language  which  signifies  Sun.  Upon 
my  husband's  invitation,  they  came  to  see  him, 
and  were  entertained  there,  according  to  the  rites 
of  Indian  hospitality,  with  tobacco  and  rum. 

AmonsT  these  Indians,  was  one  decorated  with 
several  medals,  which  are  insignia  of  bravery. 
We  invited  him  to  dinner,  and  obliged  him  to 
drink ;  but  he  did  it  reluctantly,  saying  in  broken 
French,  "Bon  enfant  le  sauvage,  lorsque  sobre, 
mais  trop  bu,  animal  foroce."  He  took  a  fancy 
to  my  daughter  Frederica,  and  begged  her  to  pre- 
sent him  with  a  new  ribbon  for  his  medals,  which, 
he  said,  he  should  then  value  more  than  ever. 

23* 

;..     \^« 

•  -  ....  ,  ,^ 


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« 


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f  ■ 


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"■  He  was  very  good-natured,  and  his  civility  arose 
^  from  the  natural  kindness  of  his  disposition. 
^  The  savages  attach  great  weight  to  dreams.  A 
certain  Johnson,  by  shrewdly  humouring  this  foi- 
ble, became  a  rich  man.  They  were  wont  to  come 
and  tell  him,  that  they  had  dreamt  he  had  given 
them  much  tobacco  and  rum.  ''Well,"  replied 
he,  "  I  will  p'-ove  that  you  were  right,"  and 
thereupon  gave  them  their  favourite  delicacies. 
Upon  this,  vi«:*.ts  and  dreams,  and  consultations 
became  more  and  more  frequent.  But  one  day  he 
went  to  tell  them,  tiiat  he  had.  also,  had  a  dream ; 
that  in  return  for  the  kindness  and  hospitality  he 
had  shown  tiiem,  they  had  granted  him  a  large 
tract  of  land,  which  he  described.  "  Have  you 
really  dreamt  that  ?"  they  exclaimed,  with  coun- 
tenances expressive  of  terror  ;  and  having  said 
this,  they  went  into  deliberation  ;  at  the  conclu- 
sion of  which  they  returned  to  him,  and  said, 
"Brother  Johnson,  we  give  thee  that  tract  of  land 
— but  never  dream  any  more."  r^i.    ta,  •    i^m- 

These  savages  are  not  very  kind  to  their  own 
flesh,  for  they  make  many  incisions  in  their  faces. 
which  they  daub  with  colours,  that  they  may  mak<' 
a  more  martial  appearance.  A  young  man  beinc 
upon  one  occasion  elected  the  chief  of  one  tribe, 
much  dissatisfaction  arose  among  the  others,  and 
so  many  insults  were  levelled  against  him  by  one  of 


.^ 


-.•^, 


\ 


»  I  »imKi  I  ,«»»■.< 


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■<fc*  ■•  ->..<yajl«*s».. 


%y 


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*.    .;♦• 


271 


the  opposite  leaders,  that,  after  much  recrimina-  ^  * 
lion,  the  youth  sprang  from  his  seat,  and  split  the  H 
head  of  his  antagonist  with  his  tomahawk.  When 
he  had  become  cool  enough  to  reflect  upon  the 
long  and  bloody  strife  which  must  ensue  from  his 
rash  act,  he  went  to  the  English  commanding 
officer,  asked  him  for  a  piece  of  black  ribbon,  hnd 
having  received  it,  he  pierced  both  his  arms, 
passed  the  ribbon  through  the  flesh,  and  caused 
himself  to  be  fastened  with  it  on  his  back.  He 
then  went  to  the  oflTended  tribe,  and  exclaimed, 
that  he  acknowledged  himself  guilty  of  having, 
in  a  transport  of  rage,  killed  one  of  their  brethren, 
but  to  avoid  the  eti'usion  of  more  blood,  he  had 
disabled  himself,  and  had  now  come  to  deliver 
himself  up  to  them,  in  that  state.  By  that  mag- 
nanimous behaviour,  and  display  of  courage  and 
penitence,  he  excited  the  sympathy  of  the  tribe 
so  much,  that  they  not  only  pardoned  him,  but 
adopted  him  in  the  place  of  their  murdered  com- 
panion, and  afterwards  even  chose  him  for  their 
chief.    .         ■^■ 

111  battle,  as  long  as  victory  Was  on  our  side,  the 
savages  behaved  bravely  ;  but,  during  retreats,  as, 
for  instance,  upon  thai  previous  to  the  surrender 
at  Saratoga,  I  saw  them  run  and  conceal  them-     . 
selves ;  which,  however,  may  be  partly  ascribed  to  ^  \ 


■'M- 


■  "■>--*; 


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il. 


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272 


T^ 


■tftl 


the  fact,  that  they  dreaded  not  captivity  njwely, 
but  death.  -''  *^^' 

We  spent  some  weeks,  during  the  summer  of 
1782,  very  agreeably  at  Quebec.  A  house  had 
been  built  for  General  Haldimand  upon  the  top  of 
a  hill,  which  he  called  Montmorency  House,  after 
the*  famous  water-fall  of  that  name.  He  invited 
us  to  pay  him  a  visit  in  this  his  favourite  residence, 
which,  indeed,  was  charmingly  situated.  The 
river  precipitates  itself  from  a  height  of  one  hun- 
dred and  sixty-three  feet,  with  a  terrible  noise, 
into  a  chasm  between  two  mountains.  When  wo 
first  went  to  see  that  sublime  scene,  I  happened 
to  say  to  the  general,  that  it  must  be  delightful  to 
have  a  little  dwelling  opposite  to  it.  Three 
weeks  afterwards.,  we  accompanied  him  thither  a 
second  time,  and,  after  having  climbed  up  the 
steep  ascent,  and  the  detached  rocks,  which  were 
connected  by  small  bridges,  and  which  reminded 
me  of  »'>me  descriptions  of  Chinese  gardens,  we. 
at  last,  reached  the  top,  where  the  general  begged 
my  hand  to  show  me  into  a  small  house,  whicli 
Wits,  as  it  were,  suspended  upon  the  cataract. 
He  wondered  at  my  courage,  when  I  followed 
iiim  without  hesitation.  The  foundations  of  the 
house  consisted  of  eight  strong  beams,  laid 
athwart,  ben^  ath  which  the  cataract  hurried  down 
with  trenK-ndou*  velocity.     The  situation  of  this 


u 


?^'--f^'< 


/,=<•;■ 


.Ijfc*'^*^^     .'S*^^ 


fs: 


» 


</ 


•♦•4 


273 


house  afforded  an  awful,  but  majestic  sight.  The 
noise  was  so  tremendous,  that  it  was  impossible  to 
remain  long  within  it.  Trout  may  be  caught  among 
the  rocks  above  the  cataract.  An  English  officer, 
however,  paid  dear  for  that  pleasure.  He  was 
about  leaping  from  one  rock  to  another,  to  catch 
some  of  these  fish,  when,  by  an  unfortunate  slip, 
he  fell  into  the  rushing  waters,  v/as  carried  away, 
and  his  mangled  limbs  soon  left  no  reason  to  doubt 
of  his  melancholy  fate. 

We  visited  this  spot  once  in  the  winter.  The 
effects  of  the  frost  presented  fantastic  and  varied 
objects  to  the  sight,  and  created  a  new  and  im- 
posing spectacle;  but  the  thundering  roar  was 
wanting  to  produce  the  solemn  impressions  we 
had  previously  felt.  The  winter  was  so  severe, 
that  wine  froze  in  bottles  ;  it  was  not  spoiled,  but 
preserved,  on  the  contrary,  all  its  flavour  when 
thawed :  the  part,  however,  which  remained  li- 
quid, seemed  to  be  superlatively  excellent. 

In  the  autumn  of  1782,  when  I  was  near  my 
confinement,  Mr.  de  Riedesel  was  seiit  to  the  Isle 
aux  Noix,  to  superintend  the  construction  of  some 
fortifications.  During  his  absence,  I  felt  very 
lonely ;  and  he  was  not  better  off  than  myself. 
Happily,  at  intervals  of  three  or  four  weeks,  he 
came  to  see  me.  From  Isle  aux  Noix,  he  made  a 
short  excursion  to  Point  de  Fer,  which  lies  at  the 


■V 


A-^' 


V    - 


'*> 


9^  *»(«*.-« 


'"I**-"'**  j?"*-.-»srw'.-.-''  ■ 


,    i 


, .  *  T,'f^*rJ*il-,'^a 


274 


"% 


i* 


r 


confluence  of  the  river  Sorel  with  Lake  CWm- 
plain^to  visit  the  outposts.  He  was  near  being 
burnt  in  the  barracks.  In  the  midst  of  the  night, 
he  heard  a  great  noise,  which,  from  the  proximity 
of  the  enemy's  pickets,  he  attributed  to  an  attempt 
of  the  Americans  to  seize  him.  An  Elnglish  com- 
missioned officer  came  in,  and  asked  for  the  general, 
and  when  my  husband  had  made  himself  known, 
he  exclaimed,  "  Quick,  quick,  general,  run,  lest 
we  both  perish ;  the  barracks  are  in  flames :"  and 
saying  this,  he  did  not  suffer  my  husband  to  save 
any  thing,  but  carried  him  away  on  the  ice, 
though  barefoot,  in  the  midst  of  smoke  and 
flames.  The  danger  was,  indeed,  imminent, 
owing  to  the  barrels  of  gunpowder  deposited  in 
the  barracks.  But  when  Mr  de  Riedesel  saw  the 
men  engaged  in  arresting  the  flames,  he  joined 
them,  and  dressed  himself  afterwards  at  one  of 
the  watch-fires. 

In  November,  I  became  ill,  while  riding  in  my 
carriage  to  dispel  the  gloom  which  overcast  my 
mind.  I  was  worse  on  my  return,  and  could  not 
dine  at  table.  On  the  same  day,  however,  I  an- 
nounced to  my  husband  the  increase  of  our  family. 
He  was  unwilling  lo  be  persuaded,  that  his  hopes 
of  having  a  son,  were  again  disappointed,  and  the 
health  of  his  youngest  daughter  being  drunk  by 
one  of  his  friends,  he  again  looked  into  my  letter, 


'  *-,'^ 


■*., 


i..'V* 


tr 


,.,„t»;»*».-fc.j 


,^t-- 


.«,■• 


275 


before  he  pledged  it.  But  when  he  saw  the  preUy 
little  creature,  he  forgot  all  his  previous  wishes. 
The  parental  hopes  we  entertained  of  this  child, 
were  of  short  duration.  It  died,  when  only  five 
months  old.  Augusta  and  America  were  so 
deeply  distressed  at  the  dea*.h  of  their  sister,  that 
we  were  in  fear  of  losing  them  also,  and  my  husband 
grew  so  uneasy,  that  it  was  with  reluctance  he 
entered  the  house,  until  ine  physician  assured  him 
ames  r'  and  I  ^^^  were  all  perfectly  recovered. 

My  little  gir!,  whom  we  had  named  Canada, 
having  been  buried  in  Sorel,  the  officers  promised 
to  iiave  an  inscription  engraved  upon  her  tomb,  to 
save  it  from  any  profanation,  which  it  might  suffer, 
on  the  score  of  our  raligious  principles,  from  some 
zealous  Canadian  Catholic. 

In  the  summer  of  1783,  general  Haldimand, 
with  a  view  of  diverting  me  from  my  sorrow,  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  see  us  in  Quebec,  but  my  hus- 
band, having  received  the  news  of  the  death  of  his 
lather,  became  more  impatient  than  ever  to  return 
to  Europe.  His  health  was  yet  very  frail.  Al- 
though the  climate  of  Canada  suited  him  better 
than  that  of  New-York,  he  still  suffered  from 
headaches  and  a  noise  in  his  ears.  I  was  also 
imxious  to  see  my  family  again.  We  should 
otherwise  have  been  glad  to  remain  longer  in 
Canada,  for  the  climate  proved  favourable  to  our 


r 

4 


. 


#• 


»       -i 


\  '- 


9 


,>.  r-  "» 
.1 


'-*■-'«*■*'■ 


*     ,* 


1  i. 


h      > 


:# 


^. 


*   \ 


r^t. 


276 


children ;  we  had  many  friends  and  our  situation 
was  altogether  agreeable.  The  preliminaries  of 
peace  having  been  signed,  it  was  believed  that 
our  troops  would  yet  in  the  course  of  the  present 
year  return  to  Europe.  General  Haldi.i  .;nd,  who 
also  wished  himself  back  in  England,  had  already 
written  to  his  government  respecting  it.  We 
often  canvassed  the  ways  and  means  of  making 
the  voyage  together.  Walking  one  day  with  him 
in  his  garden,  we  observed  on  a  sudden,  a  great 
number  of  vessels  enter  the  bay,  and  a  beautiful 
one  cast  anchor  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  The 
genera?  said,  "  These  vessels  are  surely  come  to 
convey  you  and  your  troops  to  Europe.  Perhaps 
we  go  in  company."  My  Frederica,  who  stood 
near  me,  exclaimed,  "  Well,  if  we  go,  will  you 
give  me  that  fine  ship  there  .'"'  "  My  dear  child," 
replied  the  general,  "  if  it  is  a  transport-ship,  you 
shall  have  it :  but  what  would  the  king  of  England 
say,  if  I  occasioned  him  such  an  expense  V 
"  Oh  !"  returned  she,  "  the  king  loves  his  wife  and 
children,  and  surely  will  not  grudge  my  father 
the  pleasure  of  conveying  his  family  home  in 
safety.  And  will  you  not  be  glad  to  have  your 
little  wife  in  a  good  ship*^?"  (The  good  general 
always  called  my  little  Augusta  his  wife.)  He 
smiled,  and  said,  "  Well,  we  will  attend  to  it." 
Two  days  afterwards,  he  came  and  told  me,  with 


•»e 


-t^- 


-'^^         #       ' 


-%, 


#«. 


r: 


1    •   . 


*•  *  r 


\l. 


X. 


277 


evident  emotion,  that  we  must  soon  -  part ;  that 
our  wishes  were  fulRlled,  but  that  he  must  re- 
main ;  and  that  he  should  ever  regret  our  ab- 
sence. He  had  found,  He  said,  my  husband  to  be 
a  man  worthy  of  all  confidence,  and  met  in  every 
individual  of  his  family,  a  friend :  he  had  fondly 
indulged  the  hope  of  returning  to  Europe,  in  com- 
pany with  u  <,  but  that  the  king  directed  him  to 
remain ;  and  he  nmst  obey.  Remembering  what 
my  daughter  had  recently  told  him,  and  wishing, 
by  every  means  in  his  power,  to  render  our  voyage 
safe  and  commodious,  he  had  himself  examined 
the  ship,  on  board  of  which  we  were  to  embark  ; 
but  that  it  did  not  answer  his  expectations  :  that 
which  had  so  much  pleased  my  daughter,  was,  on 
on  the  contrary,  as  good  a  one  as  we  could  wi^h, 
but  was  not  of  the  number  of  those  which  we'  e 
destined  for  the  transportation  of  the  troops.  He 
took  it,  nevertheless,  upon  his  personal  responsi- 
bility to  freight  it,  and  to  have  it  arranged  ac- 
cording to  our  wishes.  He  begged  me  to  look  at 
it,  and  give  my  directions  for  our  farther  accom- 
OK  lation  ;  strict  attention  would  be  immediately 
puiu  to  them,  orders  to  that  effect  having  been  al- 
ready issued.  He  told  me  that  my  husband  was 
preparing  to  depart  for  Sorel,  and  that  I  should 
do  well  to  follow  him  thither  without  delay,  to 
make  all  necessary  arrangements   for  our  great 

24 


'    m 


'f€  -1 


4^ 


riitatmi-/ 


...4 


■■■i'aLi 


^y- 


I 


<;' 


A 


4f 


278 


voyage.  Tie  hoped,  he  said,  that  he  should  en- 
joy, on  our  return  lo  Quebec,  our  society  as  mucli 
us  we  could  indulge  his  wishes  in  that  respect. 
lie  then  went  away,  deeply  affected.  How  could 
one  avoid  feeling,  for  such  a  man,  the  most  sincere 
friendship!  An  hour"  afterwards,  major  Twiss 
came  to  accompany  me  to  the  ship,  which  was  a 
West-Indian  three-decker.  The  captain  wu 
highly  recommended  to  us,  not  less  for  his  nauti- 
cal skill,  than  for  the  urbanity  of  his  manners,  and 
for  his  nu)ral  character.  While  examining  the 
ship,  I  was  asked,  which  part  of  it  would  suit  me 
best  for  my  dining  and  drawing  rooms.  I  smiled 
at  the  question.  "  Where  could  you  find  spacf 
for  such  an  extensive  establishment.'"'  asked  I. 
"  This  can  be  easily  managed,"  returned  the  cap- 
tain ;  and  hnmediately  he  caused  the  guns  to  be 
removed ;  a  window  was  made  in  the  upper  deck; 
and  on  both  sides,' several  cabins  were  construct- 
ed by  means  of  partitions,  in  which  beds,  tables, 
and  chairs  were  put  for  the  use  of  the  gentlemen. 
The  state-room  was  reserved  for  us,  on  the  two 
sides  of  which  three  dormitories  were  arranged 
for  my  husband,  myself,  and  the  children,  and 
every  thing  was  better  than  could  be  expected  in 
a  floating  gaol. 

On   the   following  day,  I  departed  for  Sorel. 
Tor  the  sake  of  greater  speed,  I  had  been  advised 


.jti 


'% 


ijr;; 


Mimiii!!:.. 


3ss'r 


•••> 


279 

to  go  in  a  boat,  but  the  river  being  too  slmllow  to 
hold  it,  we  were  obliged  to  neek  the  sfiore  again. 
The  men  who  carried  us  upon  their  shoulders, 
from  the  boat  through  the  slipnery  mud,  were 
often  nciir  falling.  Upon  touching  land,  we  had 
yet  ♦o  ascend  a  steep  hill :  I  thought  the  Cana- 
dians ould  never  be  able  to  help  us  farther;  but 
of  tli  nti  took  me  under  their  arms,  while  the 
ot)  arned  my  children.      TIjo  weatSt:/   vt  as 

ly   hot.     At    last    we   reached  a    )  f  i.mo, 
1*1.  ti  could  spend  the  night.     The  beds  were 

g(i  VVe   refreshed  ourselves  with  sleep   and 

some   food,  and  the  next  morning  continued  our 
journey. 

On  my  arrival  at  Sorel,  I  found  my  husband  en- 
gaged in  making  preparations  for  our  final  de- 
parture. I  also  pursued  my  arrangements  with 
so  much  activity,  that  within  a  week  I  was  able  to 
return  to  Quebec,  whither  my  husband  shortly 
followed  me.  Yet,  before  leaving  Sorel,  I  con- 
sulted with  the  priest  of  the  parish,  about  the 
means  of  preserving  my  child's  tomb  from  all  vio- 
lation. The  good  clergyman  assured  me,  that  my 
fears  were  groundless,  as  the  infant  had  only  been 
baptized  and  not  yet  confirmed,  and,  therefore, 
was  in  no  way  different  from  one  whose  parents 
were  catholics ;  and  that  he  would  attend  to  my 
wishes,  should  it  be  necessary. 


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WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145S0 

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280 

.  On  our  return  to  Quebec,  we  wer6  informed, 
that  our  ship  was  nearly  ready,  and  that  general 
Haldimand  had  several  times  looked  at  the  pro- 
gress of  the  new  arrangements,  which  were  ma- 
king in  its  interior  for  our  accommodation.  By 
his  directions,  a  cow  had  been  bought  to  sup- 
ply us  with  milk.  In  a  suitable  part  of  the  deck, 
seeds  of  salad  had  been  sown  in  a  layer  of  vege- 
table earth.  We  bought  as  many  vegetables, 
poultry,  &,c.  &c.  as  we  thought  would  be  neces- 
sary for  an  increase  of  twenty-two  persons  to  the 
ship's  company. 

Our  physician,  Dr.  Kennedy,  with  whom  we 
again  met  at  Three-Rivers,  begged  us  to  obtain 
for  him,  his  wife,  their  three  daughters,  and  three 
servants,  permission  to  embark  on  board  our  ves- 
sel. I  thought  that  a  physician  might  prove  an 
useful  companion  during  a  voyage.  The  general, 
to  whom  I  repeated  his  request,  replied,  that  we 
could  do  with  the  ship  whatever  we  pleased,  but 
that  he  feared  we  should  have  troublesome  com- 
panions. The  event  proved  that  he  knew  them 
well.  My  husband  presented  the  general  with  his 
favourite  mare  and  her  fine  foal ;  and,  in  return, 
the  general  begged  my  acceptance  of  a  splendid 
muff  and  tippet  of  sable,  as  a  memorial  of  the 
country  where  we  had  so  long  resided.  Furs  are 
among  the  most  important  productions  of  Canada. 


ttw*^"'*^'- 


t-..i3hum^^r^    ■ 


ts^' 


:li4-i  i«iiV; 


"S*Tl«*wp|te.- 


^^. 


r^  infomted, 
that  general 

at  the  pro- 
;h  were  ma- 
)dation.  By 
aght  to  sup- 
of  the  deck, 
Ljrer  of  vege- 

vegetables, 
Id  be  neces- 
»rsons  to  the 

\i  whom  we 
us  to  obtain 
rs,  and  three 
»ard  our  ves- 
;ht  prove  an 
The  general, 
lied,  that  we 
pleased,  but 
lesorae  com- 
knew  them 
leral  with  his 
d,  in  return, 
>f  a  splendid 
lorial  of  the 
d.  Furs  are 
iS  of  Canada. 


281 

Many  Englishmen  have  become  rich,  by  import- 
ing into  that  province  European  merchandize  of 
little  value,  and  taking  peltry  in  return. 

The  E^ritish  officers  had  the  civility,  the  last 
time  we  attended  their  dramatic  performances, 
which  generally  took  place  twice  a  week,  to  ex- 
press, in  an  affecting  song,  composed  for  the  oc- 
casion, their  regret  at  the  departure  of  our  troops, 
their  gratitude  for  the  benevolence  with  which 
they  had  always  been  treated  by  Mr.  de  Riedesel, 
and  their  hearty  wishes  for  our  happy  voyage. 

After  the  troops  had  been  embarked,  we  yet 
passed  some  hours  with  the  good  general.  After 
supper,  he  accompanied  us  to  the  vessel,  where  at 
last  we  took  a  hearty  and  affecting  farewell  of 
him,  and  many  other  friends. 


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■  -  •      ^•'  •■•■.'       ■■     •     •■■    ■      V-   ■'   •;,.>. •ij4«'-»t 

Mad.  de  RiedeseVs  Journal,  from  the  time  of  her 
departure  from  America^  until  her  .  arrival  at 
Brunsunc.         ,  .        , .  " 

.      '         V      .  ,  '  .  ■  ' '  '    ' 

'  ■  '  'J  ' .  '  ' .' 

'  n, 

It  was  towards  the  middle  of  August,  when  we 
embarked  for  Europe.  The  next  morning,  the 
signal  for  departure  was  given,  and  within  an 
hour,  which  was  employed  in  buying  yet  some 
provisions,  the  whole  convoy  sailed.  We  passed 
the  Isle  de  Bee,  and  were  detained  two  weeks, 
at  the  entrance  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  by  contrary 
winds,  which  was  the  more  unfortunate,  as  we 
could  not  procure  fresh  provisions,  at  least  not  as 
good  as  those  which  we  were  consuming  to  no 
purpose,  and  we  could,  besides,  no  longer  enter- 
tain the  hope  of  reaching  Europe,  before  the 
equinox. 

On  a  Sunday,  while  we  were  attending  divine 
service,  and  our  rgyman  fervently  prayed  for 
the  preservation  .  ^  ill  those  "  on  the  great  deep," 
and  for  our  safe  return  to  our  country,  our  ship, 
which  had  been  motionless  during  the  calm,  be- 
gan suddenly  to  roll,  and  the  "  Amen"  had  hardly 
been  uttered,  when  we  were  informed,  that  the 
officer  who  commanded  the  convoy  had  given  the 


■nv0p^mfmm* 


% 


%. 


>\  i^ 


time  of  her 
arrival   at 


;,  when  we 
rning,  the 
within  an 
yet  some 
¥g  passed 
wo  weeks, 
y  contrary 
ate,  as  we 
east  not  as 
ling  to  no 
ger  enter- 
jefore   the 

ing  divine 

prayed  foi 

eat  deep," 

our  ship, 

calm,  be- 

lad  hardly 

i,  that  the 

given  the 


•>  ^    ••• 

signal  to  weigh  anchor ;  and,  in  less  than  half  an 
hour,  he  passed  our  ship,  and  all  the  transports 
followed  him.  .  My  husb&nd  was  very  anxious  to 
deliver  the  despatches  with  which  general  Haldi* 
mand  had  entrusted  him,  in  less  time  than  we 
could  hope  to  reach  England,  by  going  with  the 
convoy,  and  stopping  as  often  as  they  did.  The 
captain  of  our  ship  desired  nothing  so  much  as  to 
sail  separately,  but  he  could  not  do  it,  without 
the  permission  of  the  commander.  On  the  se- 
cond day  a  vessel  made  a  signal,  upon  which  all 
the  others  shortened  sail;  but  the  commander 
was  so  polity,  as  to  call  to  my  husband  with  his 
speaking  trumpet,  "  General,  go  on."  Our  cap- 
tain took  this  for  a  general  permission  to  go  be- 
fore the  convoy,  and  all  sail  was  spread  which 
our  masts  could  carry,  and  in  a  short  time  we  had 
lost  sight  of  the  other  ships,  whereat  I  was,  at 
first,  much  rejoiced ;  but  I  soon  began  again  to 
be  apprehensive  of  the  evils  which  our  impatience 
might  bring  upon  us. 

Two  pigeons  flew  from  the  commodore's  ship 
upon  our  deck,  and  could  not  be  frightened  away. 
Our  captain*  considered  this  as  a  good  omen  for 
us,  while,  on  the  contrary,  the  crew  of  the  other 
vessel  thought  it  a  bad  one  for  them ;  and  the 
event  proved  that  they  were  right,  inasmuch  as 
the  poor  commodore  became  insane  during  the 


f 


I  h 


I 


! 


'■,  ( 


'^1 


1 


\r 


■-''U^-'    284 

voyage.  I  had  no  idea  of  the  stiperstifions  to 
which  sailors  are  apt  to  yield.  They 'draw  from 
trifling  incidents,  the  most  important  prognostics 
and  consequences. 

Soon  after  we  had  put  to  sea,  we  beheld  a 
flock  of  blackbirds  :  a  prodigious  number  of  por- 
poises gathered  around  our  ship,  and  the  horizon 
assumed  a  yellow  colour.  Our  captain  bid  us  all 
prepare  for  a  heavy  gale,  which  accordingly  began 
the  same  evening,  and  blew  with  great  violence, 
though  favourably  for  us,  three  weeks  with- 
out interruption,  except'  the  day  we  passed  near 
the  banks  of  Newfoundland,  and  carried  us  along 
so  rapidly,  that  we  ran  from  the  Isle  de  Bee  to 
St.  Helen's  Bay  in  eighteen  days,  which  is  an  in- 
stance of  unparalleled  celerity,  nothing  but  a 
French  frigate  having  yet  sailed  that  space  in 
nineteen  days,  which  was  one  day  more  than  our 
passage. 

One  evening,  one  of  our  sails  was  carried 
away,  and  being  very  dark,  it  was  hard  work  to 
replace  it.  Our  ship  was  terribly  tossed,  and  la} 
entirely  upon  one  side  :  however,  before  the  nexi 
night  set  in,  the  damage  was  repaired. 

A  few  days  afterwards,  we  thought  we  per- 
ceived the  smell  of  something  burning,  at  which 
we  were  the  more  alarmed,  as  we  had  plenty  of 
gunpowder  on  board.    After  much  searching,  we 


285 


discovered  that  the  cord  which  supported  a  lan- 
tern in  Mrs.  Kennedy's  cabin,  had  taken  fire. 
Our  captain  begged  the  lady  to  be  more  careful 
in  future,  representing  the  dangers  to  which 
we  had  been  exposed,  but  she  grew  angry, 
spoke  with  nobody  for  a  whole  week,  and  con- 
tinued to  keep  a  light  burning  in  her  cabin, 
through  the  whole  night,  to  our  great  annoyance 
and  discomfort.  Neither  my  husband  nor  myself 
could  sleep  much.  Mr.  de  Riedesel  spent  the 
greater  part  of  the  night  Upon  deck.  I  said  once 
to  the  captain,  that  the  dead-lights  frightened  me 
to  death.  He  good-naturedly  consoled  me,  say- 
ing, that  the  gale  must  be  tremendous,  and  the 
sea  very  dangerous,  that  with  a  ship  like  ours,  it 
should  be  necessary  to  resort  to  that  measure ; 
and  that  there  was  hardly  an  example  of  such 
strong  winds  having  blown  once  in  the  summer. 
This  was  about  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  and 
at  ten,  the  storm  became  so  violent,  that  nobody 
felt  inclined  to  go  to  bed.  Towards  midnight, 
some  one  knocked  at  our  door.  I  asked,  what  was 
the  matter.  A  rough  voice  answered,  "  The  cap- 
tain orders  the  dead-lights."  "  You  are  mis- 
taken," replied  I ;  "  beg  the  captain  to  come." 
He  came,  and  told  me,  that  the  sea  was  so  hea- 
vy, that  he  must  shut  our  windows :  but  that  I 
should  not  be  alarmed :  "  the  ship  wears  bravely," 


■%■ 


:^::;- 


*1' 


286 


li» 


added  he,  "  and  can  challenge  any  danger." 
The  storm  continued  to  rage  through  the  whole 
night,  and  towards  daybreak,  one  of  our  masts 
was  split.  Mrs.  Kennedy  wept  the  whole  night, 
and  growled  over  the  good  fortune  that  her  sons 
would  probably  have  to  survive  her. 

Towards  5  o'clock,  I  went  into  my  daughters' 
cabin,  undetermined  whether  I  should  wake  them, 
or  leave  them  in  happy  ignorance  of  our  perils.  I 
could  not,  however,  refrain  from  enjbracing  every 
one  of  them,  as  this  might  be  the  last  moment  of 
our  existence  in  this  world  Augusta  was  awake, 
though  she  had  not  said  a  word  for  fear  of  in- 
creasing my  anxiety.  "  What  a  storm  this  is,?' 
said  I :  "  are  you  not  alarmed  *?"  "  Surely,  mother," 
replied  she  ;  "  but  I  find  my  consolation  in  thinking 
that  I  shall  not  survive  you."  These  few  words, 
so  expressive  of  love  and  resignation,  affected  me 
deeply.  ' -  .      .'_%^ ^  .         .  ^  ■'.  '•;l'..: 

At  every  toss  of  the  rolling  sea,  I  thought 
that  it  would  be  our  last  moment.  At  daybreak, 
however,  my  alarm  ceased,  for  the  gale  mode- 
rated. The  wind  had  always  been  prosper- 
ous for  our  voyage ;  and,  we  moved  along 
at  the  rate  of  fourteen  miles  within  the  hour. 
"  Should  the  wind  continue  so  favourable,"  said 
our  captain  one  day,  "  we  may  see  the  coast  of 
England  within  three  days."    This  news  filled  us 


:■  #^ 


nasnCh^" 


rm:!^P>i^g^^^!Wtfg"t«lW/ 


•V 


y  danger." 
I  the  whole 
our  masts 
hole  night, 
at  her  sons 

daughters' 
wake  them, 
r  perils.  I 
icing  every 
moment  of 
was  awake^ 
fear  of  in- 
m  this  is,r 
y,  mother," 
in  thinking 
few  words, 
iffected  me 

I  thought 
t  daybreak, 
jale  mode- 
1  prosper- 
ved    along 

the  hour, 
able,"  said 
le  coast  of 
i^s  filled  us 


'r 


287 


.>j 


all  with  transport,  for  though  we  were  still  well 
provided  with  every  thing,  and  had  a  band  of 
music  for  our  amusement,  we  would,  neverthe- 
less, have  gladly  exchanged  our  present  conve- 
niences for  the  most  miserable  hovel.  My  hus- 
band could  not  reconcile  himself  to  the  imprison- 
ment on  board  of  the  ship  ;  and  such  was  his 
restlessness,  that  I  hardly  believe  that  he  retired 
into  his  cabin  more  than  five  or  six  nights,  during 
the  whole  voyage. 

During  one  of  the  squalls,  one  of  our  cows  fell 
from  a  sort  of  hammock  in  which  she  was  kept, 
and  was  so  much  injured,  that  the  captain  deter-"*' 
mined   to  kill  her,  whereby  our  crew  were  no 
losers.    '  '■£^£^  ■     .\  , 

Towards  the  end  of  our  voyage,  the  sky  was 
so  overcast,  that  the  captain  was  doubtful  how 
near  we  were  to  the  wished-for  harbour.  The 
captain,  by  his  computation,  did  not  agree  with 
my  husband  in  the  belief  that  we  had  passed  the 
Scilly  Isles,  and  were  near  the  British  coast.  In 
this  uncertainty,,  he  determined  on  the  eighteenth 
day  of  our  voyage  to  lay-to,  for  fear  of  accident. 

We  sat  in  the  cabin,  and  the  gentle  :  ^i  were 
at  the  table,  all  in  a  sad  and  thoughtful  mood ; 
the  captain  had  ascended  to  the  deck,  to  give  his 
orders  for  laying-toj  when  a  cry  of  "  land,"  from 
above,  attracted  our  attention,  and  shortly  after- 


-y- 


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wards  the  captain  called  my  husband  to  come  on 
deck,  and  showed  him  a  small  white  speck,  just 
visible  through  the  misty  vapour,  which  he  told 
him  was  the  chalky  coast  of  England. 

The  wind  having  soon  afterwards  dissipated  the 
fog,  and,  as  it  were,  unveiled  the. horizon,  we  had 
the  unspeakable  joy  of  seeing  distinctly  the  Isle 
of  Wight,  and  the  coast  of  England.  The  cap- 
tain immediately  determined  to  spread  all  sail,  in 
order  to  weather  the  Isle  of  Wight,  and  cast  an- 
chor before  night,  for  fear  that  we  should  be  dri- 
ven to  the  north :  nor  was  this  easy  to  effect,  for 
it  was  past  4  o'clock,  and  the  island  is  thirty 
leagues  long.  However,  with  much  difficulty, 
and  some  damage,  we  reached  St.  Helen's  bay, 
and  cast  anchor,  before  8  o'clock. 

I  narrowly  escaped  a  very  fatal  accident.  I 
had  gone  upon  deck,  like  the  rest  of  the  com- 
pany, to  feast  myself  with  the  sight  of  land.  An 
English  officer,  captain  O'Connel,  jumped  for  joy, 
toppled  down,  and,  in  falling,  pushed  towards  me 
a  heavy  piece  of  timber,  which  considerably  hurt 
One  of  my  feet.  Screaming  from  pain,  I  was  car- 
ried into  my  cabin,  where  however,  I  was  soon 
relieved  by  proper  care.  There  was  a  sofa  on 
each  side  of  the  cabin:  I  was  seated  upon  one, 
and  my  seven-year's-old  girl  sat  on  the  other,  op- 
posite to  me.    On  a  sudden,  by  a  violent  motion 


4 


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of  the  ship,  she  was  thrown  upon  me,  and  thus  es- 
caped serious  injury.  .  We  passed  the  night  in  the 
bay,  and  hoped  to  be  safely  landed  on  the  next 
day  at  Portsmouth,  hut  at  the  entrance  of  the  har- 
bour, our  ship  unfortunat(;ly  ran  upon  the  wreck 
of  the  Royal  George,*  and  we  were  obliged  to 
spend  another  night  on  board,  during  which  time 
the  ship  rocked  from  side  to  side,  while  lying 
upon  the  sunken  vessel,  and  the  fragments  of  the 
ships  that  had  parted  their  cables,  and  foundered 
in  the  late  heavy  gale,  presented  a  melancholy 
spectacle,  and  increased  our  anxieties.  By  a  sin- 
gulaj*  coincidence,  we  cast  anchor  in  the  harbour 
of  Portsmouth,  between  the  ship  which  had  con- 
veyed me  to  Canada,- and  the  one  on  board  of 
which  we  had  gone  from  New- York  to  Quebec. 

Though  wc  were  within  half  an  hour's  sail  of 
the  landing,  the  tide  would  have  kept  us  a  good 
while  on  board  our  ship,  had  not  Mr.  de  Riedesel.  ^<> 
resolved  to  freight  a  lugger :  but  this  was  a  costly  #vlf^ 
Conveyance,  for  we  were  obliged  to  pay  fifteen 
guineas.  Thus  we  at  last  reached  Portsmouth, 
Our  hearts  grew  light  when  we  were  again  oH 
land,  and  I  thanked  God  for  our  safe  return  tqe'^. 


# 


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*  She  was  •  overset  on  Ihe  28th  of  June,  1782  Admiri^l 
Kempenfelt  and  the  crew  were  lost,  and  about  one  hundred  fe- 
male?. '    ^•'        r  "  \  •  ' 

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Europe,  and  especially  for  the  preservation  of  ni} 
husband.  We  put  up  at  the  best  inn,  and  our 
dinner  seemed  to  us,  after  the  faro  we  had  been 
accustomed  to  aboard,  the  most  delicious  we 
had  ever  tasted.  The  fresh  bread,  which,  indeed, 
was  excellent,  seemed  to  us  so  much  the  more  de- 
licious, as,  owing  to  the  bad  weather,  or  to  some 

,^  want  of  care,  our  ship-bread  was  seldom  well 
baked.  In  the  evening,  we  indulged  ourselves 
with  oysters,  which  we  thought  excellent,  but 
soon  we  had  abundant  reason  to  wish  we  had  not 
tasted  them.  My  Augusta  and  Dr.  Mylius  sick- 
ened, the  latter  most  severely,  though  my  daugh- 
ter's indisposition  was  serious  enough ;  Dr.  KenV 
nedy  believing  it  to  be  the  cholera  morbus.     The 

.;^voysters  probably  were  from  a  spot,  where  it  is 
prohibited,  under  a  considerable  fine,  to  collect 
any,  experience  having  shown  that  they  contained 
verdigris,  from  lying  near  the  coppered  bottom  of 
ships  which  anchor  there.  But  such  orders  are 
not  unfrequently  disregarded,  when,  by  disobey- 
ing them,  a  thing  can  be  obtained  with  less  cost 
and  trouble. 
' '  Early  on  the  following  day,  my  husband,  with 
his  aid-de-camp,  set  out  for  London.  I  particu- 
larly requested  him  to  spend  the  night  at  the  ho- 
nest landlord's,  who  had  behaved  so-well  towards 
me,  on  my  first  journey,  but  the  postillion  went 


'■$: 


.^* 


■■% 


'  *<(!l^l>I*JM(,.»«l 


ition  of  ni} 
in,  and  our 
}  had  been 
ilicious  wc 
ich,  indeed, 
le  more  de- 

(MT  to  some 
Esldom  well 
d  ourselves 
;ellent,  but 
we  had  not 
lylius  sick- 

my  daugh- 
;  Dr.  Ken^ 
rbus.  The 
where  it  is 
,  to  collect 
y  contained 
d  bottom  of 

orders  are 
by  disobey- 
Ji  less  cost 

sband,  with 
I  particu- 
t  at  the  ho- 
ell  towards 
illion  went 


\ . 


291 


^ 
4 


"0 


over  aoothor  road ;  aud  the  same  would  have  hap- 
pened to  mo,  had  I  not  strongly  remonstrated 
against  it.  The  good  innkeeper  received  me  with 
great  demonstrations  of  joy.  In  a  little  amateur- 
concert  which  he  arranged  for  the  evening,  his  sis- 
ter, who  had  been  blind  for  five  years,  performed  a 
part.  She  was  very  anxious  to  conceal  her  defect 
from  strangers,  and  for  that  reason  seated  herself 
at  her  piano,  before  the  company  arrived,  and  her 
eyes  having  no  external  defect,  nobody  would 
have  known  any  thing  about  it,  had  not  her  bro- 
ther whispered  the  secret,  for  fear  that,  on  an  ac- 
cidental discovery,  some  one  might  make  remarks 
to  her,  or  in  her  presence,  that  would  have  dis- 
tressed her.  He  expressed  great  regret  at  not 
having  seen  my  husband.  I  asked  him  what 
could  be  the  reason  that  the  postillions  had  taken 
a  different  road.  He  said,  that  he  thought  it  dis- 
honest to  bribe  them ;  while,  on  the  contrary,  the 
man  who  kept  the  inn  two  miles  from  his  house, 
paid  them  largely,  not,  indeed,  from  his  own  purse, 
but  from  those  of  his  guests.  "  But  those  who 
have  once  visited  us,"  added  he,  "come  again, 
knowing,  by  experience,  that  I  do  all  I  can  to  sa- 
tisfy them.^'  The  house  was  much  improved  since 
my  first  visit.  The  entrance,  and  the  yard,  were 
decorated  with  a  profusion  of  choice  flowers,  and 
trailing  plants  covered  the  walls,  along  which 


■IT'   t- 


■'t'-^" 


X'\ 


■  Mis. 


■*?*<, 


''*: 


t 


.  >■■ 


'M^' 


J^' 


^ 


■00' 


VI. 


292 


'%. 


hang  several  glass-balls,  containing  gold-fish; 
all  which  produced  a  very  pleasing  effect.  I 
again  had  the  best  rooms  in  the  house,  and  though 
the  fare  was  as  good  as  I  could  wish,  the  reckon- 
ing was  extremely  moderate.  My  husband,  on 
the  contrary,  was  terribly  cheated'.  ^ysr 

Two  days  afterwards,  we  arrived  in  London,  where 
we  lodged  splendidly  in  a  hotel,  called,  if  I  remem- 
ber rightly,  The  King  George.  My  first  visit,  on 
the  next  morning,  was  to  the  good  Russel,  who  had 
been  so  attentive  and  kind  to  me,  during  my  first 
stay  in  London.  I  sent  for  a  hackney-coach,  and 
anticipated  the  pleasure  of  surprising  them  with 
such  an  unexpected  call.  Being  told  Mr.  Russel 
was  dressing  himself,  we  went  into  his  shop, 
and  placed  ourselves  near  Mrs.  Russel's  counter, 
who  was  then  engaged  with  a  purciiaser.  Turn- 
ing her  eyes  upon  me,  she  at  first  looked  astonish- 
ed, but  soon  exclaimed,  "Is  it  you  ? — but  you  had 
only  three  children."  I  could  not  dissemble  any 
longer  j  tears  of  joy  betrayed  me,  and  I  threw  my- 
self upon  her  neck.  At  the  same  moment,  some 
onfe  exclaimed  close  behind  me,  "  My  lady,  I  must 
embrace  you."*  It  was  worthy  and  honest  Mr. 
Russel.      These  good  people  could  not  refrain 


*  We  prwerve  Mad.  de  Riedesel's  English  phrase. 


from  te 
and  se( 
We 
the  hou 
Try  on. 
the  que 
sent  w 
would 
not  bei 
for  the 
that  ds 
were  p 
who   li 
gracioi 
"We 
glad  to 
were  pi 
in  waiti 
the  fire 
near  tl 
round, 
of  her 
a  great 
though 
news  I 
ways  h 
your  ti 
body." 


*     / 


y^  f^'  "'*^y'."'^H^ " 


'.''•^< 


393 


gold-fish ; 

effect.  I 
md  though 
he  reckon- 
isband,  on 

■^^■'<-  . 
don,  Where 
if  I  remem- 
st  visit,  on 
3I,  who  had 
ig  my  first 
coach,  and 
them  with 
Mr.  Russel 
his  shop, 
I's  counter, 
er.  Turn- 
d  astonish- 
ut  you  had 
emble  any 
threw  my- 
lent,  some 
idy,  I  must 
lonest  Mr. 
not  refrain 


ihraae. 


e. 


from  tears  when  I  retired,  but  I  promised  to  come 
and  see  them  once  more  with  my  husband. 

We  were  daily  invited  to  dinner,  and  once  at 
the  house  of  our  good  friend  of  New- York,  general 
Tryon.  One  day,  while  we  were  yet  at  dinner, 
the  queen's  first  lady  of  honour,  my  lady  Howard, 
sent  us  a  note  to  inform  us  that  her  majesty 
would  expect  us  at  (i  o'clock.  My  court-dress 
not  being  yet  ready,  I  was  obliged  to  apologize 
for  the  impossibility  of  paying  my  duties  upon 
that  day,  and  I  renewed  my  excuse  when  we 
were  presented  to  their  majesties.  The  queen, 
who  like  her  royal  consort,  received  us  most 
graciously,  replied  with  the  greatest  affability : 
"  We  care  not  for  the  dress,  when  we  are 
glad  to  see  our  visiters."  All  the  royal  princesses 
were  present.  The  queen,  the  princesses,  the  lady 
in  waiting  and  myself  formed  half  a  circle  around 
the  fire-place.  The  king  and  my  husband  stood 
near  the  chimney.  Tea  and  cakes  were  handed 
round.  I  was  seated  between  the  queen  and  one 
of  her  royal  daughters,  and  was  obliged  to  relate 
a  great  deal.  Her  majesty  told  me,  "I  have  often 
thought  of  you,  and  inquired  after  you,  and  the 
news  I  received  gave  me  great  pleasure,  for  I  al- 
ways heard  that  you  enjoyed  good  health,  passed 
your  time  agreeably,  and  were  beloved  by  every 
body."     The  princess  Sophia,  observing  that  I 


M 


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294 


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■#■ 


had  a  dreadful  cough,  went  for  a  jelly  of  black 
currents,  which  she  recommeiided  to  me  as  an  ex- 
cellent remedy,  and  of  which  she  obliged  me  to 
accept  a  pot  full.  At  nine  o'clock,  the  prince 
of  Wales  came ;  the  young  princesses,  his  sisters, 
ran  towards  him,  and  he  embraced  them  and 
jumped  about  with  them.  The'  natural  conde- 
scension of  their  majesties  was  so  successful  in 
dispelling  all  uneasiness  and  constraint  from  the 
minds  of  those  whom  they  deigned  to  admit  into 
their  presence,  that  we  could  have  thought  our- 
selves in  the  midst  of  a  happy  family  of  our  own 
rank.  We  remained  with  their  majesties  until 
ten  o'clock.  The  king  and  my  husband  conversed 
a  long  time  respecting  America,  and  always  iti 
German,  which  his  majesty  spoke  with  great 
fluency.  Mr.  de  Riedesel  was  much  struck  with 
the  king's  excellent  memory.  On  taking  leave, 
the  queen  was  so  condescending  as  to  tell  me  that 
she  hoped  I  would  remain  some  time  in  England, 
and  that  she  wished  to  see  me  once  more  before 
my  departure.  But  we  shortly  received  news  that 
the  squadron  which  was  to  convey  us  and  the 
troops  to  Germany,  was  waiting,  and  we  were 
therefore  obliged  to  relinquish  the  honour  of  wait- 
ing a  second  time  upon  the  royal  family.  During 
this  latter  stay  in  London,  I  became  acquainted 
with  lord  North  and  Mr.  Fox,  who  both  called 


''^ifc_:  '»-. 


■■h 


;s^e?^^' 


..  ;,\»>">  •-•l~i-*4Mnt4l_ 


■^^'.1 l<li|lMg^t"-S;y». 


.-  .,  . ,.  .a  J 


"*; 


-^- 


of  black 

2  as  an  ex- 
ged  me  to 
he  prince 
his  sisters, 
thefti  and 
•al  conde- 
xessful  in 
it  from  the 
admit  into 
>ught  our- 
'  our  own 
sties  until 
conversed 
always  i^ 

vith  great 
ruck  with 
ing  leave, 
ell  me  that 
I  England, 
3re  before 
news  that 

3  and  the 
we  were 

ir  of  wait- 
.  During 
cquainted 
)th  called* 


•i 


^5 

upon  I's.  I  made  several  short  excursions  in  thef. 
eDAJ  <  of  London,  to  see  whatever  was  most 
worthy  of  attention.  I  might  have  been  more  ac- 
tive in  this  way,  had  we  not  been  unexpectedly 
compelled  to  abridge  our  residence  in  the  capital 
of  England.  The  transports  waited  for  us  at 
Deal,  and  there  we  went.  To  our  great  dismay, 
the  equinoctial  wind  had  begun.  The  captain 
wished  it  was  over  before  we  embarked,  for  it 
blew  a  perfect  hurricane  ;  and  the  entrance  of  the 
Elbe,  especially  in  tempestuous  weather,  is  rather 
difficult.  After  having  spent  a  day  at  Deal,  in 
the  vain  expectation  of  a  change  in  the  weather, 
my  husband  resolved  not  to  detain  the  convoy 
any  longer,  but  to  put  to  sea.  The  wjiarf  at  Deal 
is  not  at  all  convenient,  and  much  less  so  when 
the  weather  is  stormy.  The  ships'  boats  lie  on 
the  beach,  until  the  tide  floats  them.  This  seem- 
ed to  me  a  perilous  operation.  A  great  crowd 
stood  round  the  boat.  On  a  sudden,  my  young- 
est daughter,  who  was  but  three  years  old,  and 
who  lay  upon  my  lap,  cried  out  in  English,  with  a 
tone  of  anguish,  and  stretching  out  her  little  arms, 
"Is  there  nobody  here  who  will  take  me'?"  A 
well-dressed  female  came  running  towards  me, 
and  strove  to  take  the  child,  at  the  moment  when 
the  sailors  shoved  of  the  boat,  and  I  had  the 
greatest  difficulty  to  prevent  her  from  doing  so. 


« -il'-:i_:f  ijaji- i^^.j 


,   ♦ 


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% 


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.-^ 


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Miiiio  I ' ■»■■•«■■■«« 


*.._ 


<   -i 


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^s 


296 


■V 


I 


f  .' 


^ 


k,- 


Our  skiff  was  rocked  dreadfully  by  the  rolling 
waves,  and  my  actual  danger  discomposed  me  so 
#'        much  the  more,  as  on  my  arrival  in  England  I  had 
,f  flattered  myself  that  my  courage  would  not  be  ex- 

posed to  new  trials.  Even  on  reaching  the  vessel, 
we  had  yet  a  vast  deal  of  anxiety  and  trouble. 
Our  boat  was  so  much  tossed  by,  the  rolling  sea, 
that  it  was  extremely  difficult  to, get  on  board  the 
ship.  I  was  determined  not  to  leave  the  boat  un- 
til all  my  children  and  my  Imsbaud  were  safely  on 
deck.  My  husband  first  ascended  the  ship's  side; 
the  sailors  then  took  my  children  and  climbed  up 
the  ladder,  during  which  time  I  suffered  inex- 
pressible anguish  ;  and  I,  the  last  of  the  company, 
was  hoisted  up  in  a  chair.  On  reaching  the  quart 
ter-deck,  the  captain  said  to  me,  "  I  must  indeed 
congratulate  you,  madam,  for  you  have  to-day 
been  in  greater  danger  than  during  your  whole 
,  voyage."  On  the  next  morning,  we  weighed  an- 
chor, and  were  three  days  on  our  passage  to  Stade. 
We  were  obliged  to  go  to  and  fro,  on  account  of 
the  difficulty  of  passing  the  barrels  placed  in  that 
part  of  the  Elbe,  to  indicate  the  only  route  by 
which  large  ships  can  make  their  way  with  the 
help  of  the  tide.  My  husband  at  last  grew  tired, 
and  having  requested  to  be  put  on  shore,  he  con- 
thmed  his  journey  to  Stade  in  a  calash;  but  as  it 
would  have  been  troublesome  for  a  large  family  to 


„% 


■  vi-i 


^f 


%^^%-'* 
'^^7.  • 


%■■ 


'■«fi 


**, 


»  ^  ..  V 


V* 


-i 


4^ 


K^t^m»^\ 


,ii_  ^ -■.- 1:::- ?^- ^— -<-. 


H",^-. 


the  rolling 
3sed  me  so 
land  I  had 
not  be  ex- 
the  vessel, 
id  trouble, 
rolling  sea, 
board  the 
le  boat  un- 
re  safely  on 
ship's  side; 
climbed  up 
ered  inex- 
}  company, 
g  the  quart 
ust  indeed 
ave  to-day 
^our  whole 
sighed  an- 
e  to  Stade. 
account  of 
ied  in  that 
route  by 
with  the 
^rew  tired, 
3,  lie  con- 
;  but  as  it 
i  family  to 


r297 


travel  in  this  way,  I  remained  on  board  with 
my  children  and  suite.  The  captain,  who  for- 
tunately chanced  to  be  the  same  man  who 
carried  us  from  Quebec  to  England^  volunteered 
with  his  usual  obliging  readiness,  to  carry  me  to 
town,  if  the  ship  should  not  be  able  to  get  under 
way.  We  departed  at  4  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
in  the  long-boat.  On  leaving  the  ship,  I  request- 
ed the  captain,  in  my  husband's  name,  to  accept 
of  our  stock  of  provisions,  which  consisted  of  two 
cows,  fifteen  sheep,  six  hogs,  and  much  poultry ; 
by  which  he  seemed  much  gratified.  We  were 
rowed  by  six  sailors,  but  as  we  went  against  the 
tide,  the  poor  fellows  were  so  much  wasted  by  fa- 
tigue, that  I  began  to  fear  we  should  be  obliged 
to  spend  the  night  in  the  boat.  With  great  exer- 
tions, however,  we  reached  Stade  at  eleven  o'clock, 
though  we  were  not  able  to  approach  the  landing 
place,  on  account  of  the  great  throng  of  vessels 
already  lying  near  it,  and  ti;e  obscurity  of  the 
night,  and  were  compelled  to  make  our  way  ashore 
on  some  planks  that  were  thrown  for  our  passage 
across  three  or  four  ships.  When  at  last  we  were 
in  the  town,  I  was  at  a  loss  to  inquire  for  my  hus- 
band's lodgings.  All  the  houses  were  shut,  and 
every  body  retired  to  rest,  except  a  few  loiterers, 
who  were  either  drunk  or  unable  to  direct  us.  In- 
deed, from  my  own  anxiety  to  meet  my  husband, 
I  was  foolish  enough  to  think  that  every  body 


'^- 


■    ?  A-   .       4. 


«SMi 


^ 


*     ^  CI 


>. 


#■ 


If 
J' 

.r 


<i*-f>^ 


«; 


■  ■^^. 


*/ 


must  know  the  German  general  who  had  lately  ar- 
rived at  Stade,  and  when  I  was  answered  by  some, 
"  We  know  no  German  general,"  and  by  others, 
"  What  do  we  care  about  him  ?"  I  felt  ashamed, 
and  would  gladly  have  disp*  nsed  with  the  pre- 
sence of  the  captain  and  of  the  saijors,  who  assisted 
my  faithful  Rockel  to  carry  the  children.  At 
length  we  met  with  a  good  natured  cret^ture,  who 
guided  us  to  the  inn  where  my  husband  had  put 
up,  but  to  reach  which  we  had  to  dive  through  so 
many,  dark  lanes,  that  we  began  to  be  apprehen- 
sive, and  therefore  determined  not  to  enter  any 
house  which  should  sec  m  suspicious.  When  we 
arrived  at  the  hotel,  however,  all  my  fears  vanish- 
ed at  once,  upon  finding  at  the  door  a  sentinel  oi 
our  dragoons,  an  old  soldier,  who  had  long  been 
with  my  husband.  "  How  happy  I  feel  to  see  you 
once  more  safe  in  Germany,"  exclaimed  the  honest 
veteran,  extending  his  hands  to  me  and  my  chil- 
dren :  and  the  affectionate  tone  in  which  he  spoke 
these  words,  evinced  the  sincerity  and  goodness 
of  his  heart. 

My  husband,  who  had  already  retired,  rejoiced 
extremely  at  our  arrival.  I  hoped  to  be  able 
to  offer  to  the  captain  some  refreshment,  but  our 
grumbling  host  gave  us  bad  tea,  bad  bread  and 
butter,  and  there  was  such  a  striking  want  of 
neatness,  that  feeling  really  humiliated  at  the 
opinion  which  the  captain  might  conceive  of  my 


# 


>/ 


V 


X 


■SJ^VSa,- 


lately  ar- 

by  some, 

jy  others, 

ashamed, 

the  pre- 

0  assisted 
Iren.  At 
ture,  who 

had  put 

1  rough  so 
pprehen- 
nter  any 
When  we 
•s  vanisl^- 
mtinel  oi 
)ng  been 
0  see  you 
le  honest 
my  chil- 
he  spoke 
Goodness 

rejoiced 
be  able 
but  our 
ead  and 
want  of 
at  the 
3  of  my 


i 


89P 


■%■ 


<;ountry,  I  begged  him  not  to  judge  of  it  from  the 
present  specimen.  He  left  us  on  the  following 
day,  and  we  parted  with  sincere  regret  from  this 
honest  man,  who  had  invariably  treated  us  with 
urbanity,  regard,  and  kindness.  I  spent  a  day 
more  at  Stade  with  my  husband,  who  was  obliged 
to  wait  for  the  remainder  of  his  troops,  and  stop- 
ped the  next  evening  at  Zelle,  in  the  joyful  ex- 
pectation of  reaching  Brunswic  the  following  da3^ 
But  in  the  middle  of  the  night,  a  soldier,  with  tre- 
mendous mustachios,  appeared  on  a  sudden  at  my 
bedside  with  a  light  in  his  hand,  and  though  I 
soon  recognized  him  to  be  the  porter  of  the 
hotel,  I  was  not  the  less  frightened  on  hearing  that 
a  man  on  horseback  had  brought  me  a  letter  from 
my  husband,  which  he  held  out  to  me ;  the  ob- 
ject of  which,  however,  merely  was  to  desire  me 
to  change  the  direction  of  my  journey,  by  going 
to  WolfenbiJttel.  I  there  found  our  ancient  es- 
tablishment in  the  same  state  in  which  I  had  left 
it,  on  my  departure  for  Ariierica.  My  good 
friends.  Mad.  Paasch  and  her  daughter,  had  come 
from  Brunswic  expressly  to  arrange  all  things  for 
our  arrival.  A  good  supper  awaited  us,  after 
which  I  retired  with  the  deepest  gratitude  to  the 
Almighty  for  the  protection  he  had  dispensed  to 
me  in  so  many  dangers,  for  the  preservation  of  all 
those  who  were  dear  to  me,  and  the  increase  of 
their  number  by  my  little  America. 


'^ 


f  ---i,- 


♦, 


I 


.*■.-  ''.♦ 


::^A, 


^: 


,■* 


■4- 


*4fv 


f. 


.J*- 


-  * 


■*;«" 


J.- 
■»i' 


;.v 


300 


The  next  day,  our  excellent  duchess,  and  seve- 
ral old  and  dear  friends,  came  to  see  me  ;  and  a 
week  afterwards  I  had  the  joy  of  seeing  my  hus- 
li>and  march  through  the  city,  at  the  head  of  his 
regiments.  Eight  years  back,  I  thought  I  had 
lost  joy  and  happiness  forever,  iq  the  same  street 
where  I  now  witnessed  a  most  interesting  and 
touching  scene,  but  which  I  should  in  vain  en- 
deavour to  describe.  My  excellent  and  dear  hus- 
band, who  for  so  many  years  had  exclusively  lived 
for  the  fulfilment  of  his  duties,  and  who  had  been 
indefatigable  in  protecting  and  assisting,  as  much 
as  possible,  those  who  were  committed  to  his 
charge,  standing  in  the  midst  of  his  soldiers,  an^ 
a  multitude  of  parents,  wives,  children,  brothers, 
and  sisters,  who  either  rejoiced  at  meeting  again 
their  relatives,  who  had  been  so  long  absent,  or 
mourned  over  the  loss  of  those  who  had  been  long 
missed  and  expected ;  and  himself  struggling  with 
his  emotions. 

On  the  following  day  we  went  to  Brunswic.  I 
remember  it  was  on  a  Sunday,  in  the  autumn  of 
1783.  We  diiied  with  die  ducal  family,  and  in 
the  evening,  in  the  levee-room,  we  met  with  al- 
most all  our  old  acquaintance,  after  a  separation 
of  many  years.  These  were  delightful  hours ;  but 
they  e;^cited  my  feeling  almost  to  a  painful  de- 
gree.   ';  ^^v 


V' 


*:- 


.^I0tr 


.Mn^tfeu 


-''-^^V^3|£^ 


\ 


OFFH 


GI 


■  '*»>tw»mHi«W»''^« 


and  seve- 
le  ;  and  a 
^  my  hus- 
ad  of  his 
;ht  I  had 
me  street 
sting  and 
1  vain  en- 
dear hus- 
ively  lived 
had  been 
,  as  much 
}d  to  his 
diers,  an^ 
brothers, 
ing  again 
bsent,  or 
jeen  long 
ling  with 

iswic.  I 
utumn  of 
^i  and  in 
with  al- 
paration 
3urs;  but 
inful  de- 


»> 


>y 


•^. 


APPENDIX. 


GENERAL  RIEDESEL'S 

OFFICIAL  CORRESPONDENCE 


WITH 


GENERAL   WASHINGTON 


AND 


...f»j . 


GENERAL  GATES.  > 


26 


''I 


* 


*j. 


■  V  - 


"-v- 


»i«H~i*««,rjMto-:  ^i^-. '" 


.■^^  ^   -*^..*.-«-<%'"'^ 


i**'-^  w-  >»;.<V«.j 


/'■ 


-^ 


1 


r 


-— '•'*1(Ei'  '*""*^." «...,' 


•slWS-^'llMPHi 


..L—iSr^ 


%. 


*^' 


% 


FROM    GEl 


Sir,— I 

quoet  of 

goyne,  e; 

ficeM,  pr 

officers  < 

ther  reqi 

ber  of  G 

of  war, 

change  c 

order  fro 

I  have 

justice, 

tinction 

engaged 

you  will 

ers  of  wj 

in  every 

and  equi 

will  allc 


t* 


^' 


APPENDIX. 


FROM    GENERAL     BARON    DE    RIEDESEL    TO    GENERAL 

WASHINGTON. 

Cambridge,  Jan.  llth,  1778. 

Sir, — Major-general  Gates  having,  at  the  re- 
quest of  his  excellency  lieutenant-general  Bur- 
goyne,  exchanged  a  certain  number  of  British  of- 
ficer!*, prisoners  of  war,  for  an  equal  number  of 
officers  of  the  Continental  army ;  and  being  far- 
ther required  to  exchange  a  proportionable  num- 
ber of  German  officers,  who  were  made  prisoners 
of  war,  said  "  he  could  not  enter  upon  any  ex- 
change of  the  German  troops,  without  an  express 
order  from  congress." 

I  have  too  high  an  opinion  of  your  excellency's 
justice,  to  believe  that  you  would  make  any  dis- 
tinction between  the  troops  of  different  nations 
engaged  in  the  same  cause,  and  am  persuaded 
you  will  grant  the  same  indulgence  to  the  prison- 
ers of  war  of  one  party  which  you  do  to  the  other, 
in  every  respect,  but  particularly  in  that  of  a  fair 
and  equal  exchange  :  I  therefore  request  that  you 
will  allow  a  number  of  the  German  officers  of 


i 


^m 


>aMWJMtJCjil|'>l.^^ 


J,  \: 


■■I 


mjtf. 


304 


general  Burgoyne*s  army,  prisoners  of  war,  to  be 
exchanged,  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  British 
officers  exchanged  by  general  Gates ;  and  as  the 
officers  of  general  Burgoyne's  funily,  and  those  of 
general  Phillips',  have  bein  exchanged,  though 
included  in  the  convention;  I  request  the  same 
indulgence  may  be  granted  to  the  officers  of 
my  suite.  A  return  of  their  names,  and  of  the 
officers  made  prisoners  of  war  during  the  cdiiv. 
paign,  is  enclosed  herewith. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  gr'^it  rf^spcct, 
your  excellency's  moat  obedient  1m  ible  Hnrvant, 

RIEDESEL,  ivlajor-General. 

■■       \ 


FROM  GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GENERAL   RIEDESEL. 

Head-Quarters,  Valley-Forge,  March  31,  1778. 

Sir, — It  is  some  time  since  I  have  been  honour- 
ed with  yours  of  the  11th  January,  to  which  I 
should  have  replied  sooner,  had  I  not  been  obliged 
to  wait  for  an  answer  from  general  Gates  upon 
the  subject  of  your  letter.  He  says  you  never  ap- 
plied directly  to  him  for  the  exchange  of  yourself 
or  any  German  officers,  either  of  your  family  or 
the  corps ;  but  that  he  was  told  at  Albany,  that 
you  and  major-g  nerrl  Phillips  had  separately  ap- 


.1. 


rr- 


--^ni'rwttiniJM*    .u,fny)xat 


of  war,  to  be 
ber  ofBritigh 

and  as  the 
,  and  those  of 
iged,  though 
lest  the  same 
e  officers  of 

and  of  the 
ig  the    idi.i. 

r  It  respect, 
hie  sfiivant, 
r-General. 

\ 


IL  RIEDESEL. 

rch  31,  1778. 

•een  honour- 
to  which  I 
Hjen  obliged 
Gates  upon 
>u  never  ap- 
of  yourself 
ir  family  or 
Ibany,  that 
)ara»ely  ap- 


f « 


-      305 

plied  to  sir  Willinm  Howe  to  bo  exchanged  for 
general  Lee,  and  hud  been  answered,  that  as 
general  Prescott  hud  bf  en  firsst  taken,  he  must  be 
first  exchanged  I  inia^i/  ",  from  the  foregoing, 
that  general  Gates  must  have  misunderstood  you, 
as  he  says  he  should  ha  ve  had  no  objection  to  ex- 
changing the  foreign  as  well  as  the  British  officers. 
Commissioners  from  me  are  now  negotiating  a 
general  exchange  of  prisoners  with  commissioners 
from  sir  William  Howe.  If  they  agree  upon  terms, 
I  shall  not  have  the  least  objection  to  exchanging 
a  proportion  of  foreign  as  well  as  British  officers. 
But  you  will  please  to  observe,  that  this  is  a  mat- 
ter which  depends  solely  upon  sir  WillituH  Howe's 
pleasure,  as  he  has  a  right  to  demand  such  >fficers 
as  he  thinks  proper,  for  an  equal  number  of  equal 
rank;  but  I  should  suppose,  that  justice  to  his  al- 
lies would  point  out  the  equity  of  an  impartiil  ex- 
change.       I  am,  (&.C. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON. 


FROM  GENERAL  RIEIdESEL  TO  MAJOR-GENERAL  GATES. 

* 

Cambridge,  Nov.  2l8t,  1778. 

Sir, — Having  flattered  myself,  from  day  to  daj . 
\\  ith  the  hopes  of  having  the  pleasure  to  see  you 

26* 


i| 


lU 


% 


li.-- 


:> 


'% 


-■"—*  -.  .^^ 


rf 


*■■■  ■«"•/**■ 


.> 


■■  ^' 


■■■  "'?;.< 


.». 


:• 


Vl 


'^•^ 


*■' 


306 


w*         4*. 


*   at  Cambridge,  I  have  deferred  writing  to  yon,  to 
felicitate  you  on  your  safe  arrival  at  Boston,  and  I 
should  not  have  failed  of  seizing  the  first  oppor- 
1^^  tunity  of  waiting  upon  you,  if  I  had  not  been  pre- 

vented by  an  order,  which  has  been  in  force  ever 
since  we  have  been  here,  that  no  officer  of  the 
«  convention  was  allowed  to  go  into  Boston. 

As  the  affairs  relative  to  money,  which  have  de- 
tained me  here,  are  now  settled,  and  as  I  intend  to 
set  out  in  a  few  days,  I  request  the  favour  of  you 
to  allow  me  and  Madam  de  Riedesel  to  go  to 
Boston,  to  take  leave  of  you  and  Mrs.  Gates,  and 
to  return  you  many  thanks  for  the  civilities  which 
;,  you  hav»  ^own  me,  ever  since  I  had  the  pleasure 

of  making  your  acquaintance. 

I  must  once  more  have  recourse  to  your  good- 
ness, and  request  your  assistance,  in  order  to  make 
the  long  journey  we  are  to  undertake  as  easy  to 
Madam  de  Riedesel,  to  myself,  and  family  as  pos- 
sible. 

I  take  the  liberty  to  request  an  officer  to  con- 
duct Madam  de  Riedesel  upon  the  road,  and  a 
gb.ard  to  escort  my  baggage,  and  that  of  the  per- 
sons belonging  to  the  general  staff  of  Brunswic 
troops,  who  are  still  here,  and  are  to  accompany 
tne.  I  beg  of  you  to  give  a  written  requisition  to 
the  officer,  in  order  that  we  may  be  supplied  with 
good  quarters  oivthe  coad,  and  may  receive  pro- 


■*Mr 


■--*- 


..-4.    :i4^-»ija5»ir.'j£^  „_  K^.,r 


-i«>»A,  •»»»/SK' 


to  yon,  to 
oston,  and  I 

first  oppor- 
)t  been  pre- 
1  force  ever 
fficer  of  the 
;ton. 

ch  have  de- 
s  I  intend  to 
vour  of  you 
el  to  go  to 

Gates,  and 
lities  which 
he  pleasure 

your  good- 

der  to  make 

as  easy  to 

nily  as  pos- 

-er  to  con- 
oad,  and  a 
of  the  per- 
f  Brunswic 
accompany 
quisition  to 
jplied  witl> 
ceive  pro- 


r,; 


'"-f^ 


'^^■. 


^'. 


307 


visions  at  the  places  where  they  were  issued  to 
the  troops  upon  their  march.  *.         ?^ 

You  will  know  how  far  this  officer  and  escort 
can  accompany  us ;  and  I  beg  of  you  to  write  to 
the  next  governor  or  commander,  where  this  offi- 
cer will  be  relieved,  requesting  him  to  grant  me 
another,  as  '  well  as  carts,  and  that  I  may  meet 
with  the  same  accommodations,  as  those  which 
you  are  so  good  as  to  allow  me. 

You  will  judge  whether  I  will  farther  require  a 
passport  signed  with  your  name. 

When  I  left  Albany,  you  was  so  obliging  as  to 
give  a  colonel  Sprout,  who  accompanied  Madam 
de  Riedesel  a  little  way,  and  who  showed  every 
possible  mark  of  attention  ;  and  I  should  consider 
myself  under  double  obligations  to  you,  sir,  if  you 
would  send  an  officer  witli  Madam  de  Riedesel, 
whose  behaviour  and  sentiments  may  correspond 
with  those  of  colonel  Sprout. 

Major  Hopkins,  deputy-quarter-master-general, 
.acquainted  me  before  his  departure,  that  'squire 
Watson,  of  Cambridge,  had  orders  to  furnish  me 
with  carts,  and  that  the  number  was  fixed  by  ma- 
jor-general Heath  before  your  arrival.  I  there*- 
fore  will  not  trouble  you  upon  that  head. 

As  all  my  business  is  settled,  I  intend  (if  you- 
have  no  objection)  to  set  out  from  hence  on  Fri- 
day next,  the  26tb  inst.  and  arrive  the  same  day  fk^ 


r~- - 


*• 


.    k 


:  i 


f 


•f 


308 

Worcester.  I  propose  sending  away  hiy  baggage 
on  Wednesday,  which  can  easily  reach  Worcester 
in  three  days.  From  Worcester  I  shall  continue 
my  journey,  retaining  the  baggage  always  along 
with  me.  I  should  be  particularly  obliged  to 
you,  if  you  would  allow,  that  the  officer  who  con- 
ducts Madam  de  Riedesel,  and  the  guard  for  the 
baggage,  could  be  here  by  Tuesday  evening  or 
Wednesday  morning. 

Madam  de  Riedesel  desires  to  join  with  me  in 
compliments  to  you  and  Mrs.  Gates. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  great  esteem, &c. 
RIEDESEL,  Major-General. 


FfiOM  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  MAJOR-GENERAL  GATES. 

Essex  Court-House,  Jon.  2,  1779. 

Sir, — After  innumerable  difficulties  and  fa- 
tigues, I  arrived  here  yesterday  with  Madam  dc? 
Riedesel  and  little  family  in  good  health.  Colonel 
Troup  leaves  me  here,  and  proceeds  to  Morris- 
town.  General  lord  Sterling,  who  commands  at 
Middle-Brook,  in  the  absence  of  his  excellency 
general  Washington,  has  been  so  obliging  as  to 
send  me  a  captain  Browne,  who  is  to  accompany 
me  to  Virginia. 


AUov 
sincere 
colonel 
press  tl 
shown 
journey 
alleviate 
voidabl; 

Mad£ 
offering 
of  wish 

I  hav 


FROM  GI 


Sir,- 
to  capt 
deliver 
my  tak 
your  e: 
lord  Si 
the  pi 
great 
commi 


■■,^-Sr,tr^- 


•  V-' 


'■T»-^-rtN«^'4*J 


•■^^H 


....^ 


A 


M 


fny  baggage 
1  Worcester 
all  continue 
Iways  along 
obliged  to 
er  who  con- 
iiard  for  the 
evening  or 

with  me  in 

esteem,  &c. 
■General. 


SRAL  GATES. 

Jan.  2, 1779. 

s  and  fa- 
Madam  d<? 
'•  Colonel 
to  Morris- 
nmands  at 
excellencj^ 
?ing  as  to 
tecompany 


309 

Allow  me,  sir,  to  return  you  once  more  my  mo»t 
sincere  thanks,  for  your  goodness  in  having  sent 
colonel  Troup  with  me.  I  cannot  sufficiently  ex- 
press the  poli|t$)ness  and  attention  which  he  has 
shown  to  Madtun  de  Riedesel  and  me,  upon  the 
journey,  and  the  trouble  which  he  gave  himself  to 
alleviate  the  difficulties  which  naturally  and  una- 
voidably occur  upon  such  a  long  voyage. 

Madam  de  Riedesel  begs  leave  to  join  with  me  in 
offering  her  best  compliments  to  Mrs.  Gates,  and 
of  wishing  her  and  you  every  1^"*'^  of  Koalth  and 

liappliicos, 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  &c.  &,c. 

RIEDESEL,  Major-General. 


FROM  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO    GENERAL   WASHINGTON. 

Colle,  nfar  Choilottesville,  Feb.  16.  1779. 

Sir, — The  great  obligations  which  I  am  under 
to  captain  Browne,  who  will  have  the  honour  of 
delivering  this  letter  to  your  excellency,  occasion 
my  taking  the  liberty  of  recommending  him  to 
your  excellency.  T  lis  officer  was  appointed  by 
lord  Sterling,  to  accompany  me  and  my  family  to 
the  place  of  our  destination  in  Virginia.  The 
great  care  he  took  in  procuring  us  the  best  ac- 
commodations and  conveniences  upon  the  road. 


**'; 


ir 

V 

it 

1! 

•■! 

V  « 


( 


\ 


if 


■^ 


310 


<Mid  his  attention  and  endeavour* 'to  render  the 
long  journey  as  commodious  as  possible  to  Madam 
de  Riedesei  and  to  me,  call  upon  my  highest  ac- 
knowledgments ;  and,  although  the  recommenda- 
tion of  an  officer,  by  one  who  is  engaged  in  the 
opposite  side  of  the  great  cause  in  dispute,  ought 
to  have  no  weight,  yet  the  well-known  and  uni- 
versal sentiments  of  generosity  and  humanity 
which  your  excellency  has  testified  upon  so  many 
occasions,  encourage  me  to  recommend  captain 
Browne  to  your  excellency's  notice  and  protection. 

Captain  Browne  can  acquaint  your  excellency 
with  the  various  difficulties  we  met  with,  the 
scarcity  of  every  thing  upon  the  road,  the  enor- 
mous prices  of  every  article,  and  with  the  unge- 
nerous and  inhuman  sentiments  of  people  at  dif- 
ferent places. 

Captain  Browne  can  likewise  inform  your  ex- 
cellency, of  the  melancholy  situation  of  the  troops 
of  the  Convention  at  present,  but  which  was  much 
worse,  on  their  first  coming  here.  On  their  arri- 
val, they  found  a  few  buildings,  (which  had  recei- 
ved the  appellation  of  barracks,)  but  which,  in 
fact,  consisted  of  nothing  but  some  logs  laid 
upon  one  another,  without  any  covering,  and  the 
snow  three  feet  deep  on  the  ground.  The  troops 
have  nobly  supported  their  distress,  and  are  now 
employed  in  building  their  own  barracks,  which 
would  long  ago  have  been  finished,  if  there  had  not 


been  su( 
that  ace 
expecte( 
and  bet 
troops, 
lency  w 
we  are  i 
orders. 
Your 
the  resp 
honour ' 
most  hu 


FROM  GB 


Sir,- 
goodne! 
ter.  1(3 
dolph,  1 
deliveri 
the  knc 
tQ  whoi 
lottesvi 
officers 


f 


^,^.,S^i£:ir!SSlE*" 


>  «<«w«««?W«wf 


0  render  the 
>le  to  M  adatn 

highest  ac- 
ecommenda> 
:aged  in  the 
spute,  ought 
>wn  and  uni> 
id  humanit)f 
pon  so  many 
end  captain 

1  protection. 
■  excellency 
5t  with,  the 
id,  the  enor- 
th  the  unge- 
eople  at  dif- 

>rm  your  ex- 
>f  the  troops 
h  was  much 
ri  their  arri- 
h  had  recei- 
it  which,  in 
e  logs  laid 
ng,  and  the 
The  troops 
ind  are  now 
acks,  which 
lere  had  not 


i» 


# 


311 


been  such  a  scarcity  of  utensils.  I  must  confess^ 
that  according  to  the  description  which  we  had,  I 
expected  to  have  found  a  more  plentiful  country, 
and  better  able  to  maintain  such  a  number  of 
troops.  But  I  am  far  from  troubling  your  excel- 
lency with  complaints,  as  I  am  fully  sensible  that 
we  are  not  in  this  situation  by  your  excellency's 
orders. 

Your  excellency  will  allow  me  to  assure  you  of 
the  respectful  sentiments  with  which  I  have  the 
honour  to  be  your  excellency's  most  obedient  and 
most  humble  servant, 

RIEDESEL,  Major-General. 


FROM  GIJNERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

■     '  Bethlehem,  in  Pennsylvania,  Oct.  12,  1779- 

Sir,— 'Your  excellency,  I  hope,  will  have  the 
goodness  to  excuse  my  troubling  you  with  this  let- 
ter. I  do  it  from  motives  of  justice  due  to  Mr.  Ran- 
dolph, the  gentleman  who  will  have  the  honour  of 
delivering  it  to  you.  I  beg  to  recommend  him  to 
the  knowledge  of  your  excellency,  as  the  person 
tQ  whom  colonel  Bland,  the  commandant  at  Char- 
lottesville, gave  the  commission  of  conducting  the 
officers  of  my  family  and  baggage  to  Elizabeth- 


\ 


■»t 


^ 


312 


^H 


Town,  I  having,  as  you,  sir,  must  have  been  ap- 
prised, taken  the  route  before,  in  company  with 
major-general  Phillips.  -;■ " 

The  great  care  which  Mr.  Randolph  has  had  to 
render  the  journey  as  convenient  as  possible  to 
the  officers  of  my  suite,  the  politeness  he  has 
shown  to  them,  and  the  exactness  with  which  he 
has  executed  his  orders,  require  my  best  acknow- 
ledgments, and  have  induced  me  to  mention  this 
gentleman  to  your  excellency. 

I  will  not  enter  upon  the  subject  of  my  deten- 
tion, as  major-general  Phillips  has  written  to  your 
excellency,  and  must  haVe  fully  explained,  with  his 
own,  my  sentiments  on  that  affair ;  but  the  plea^ 
sing  prospect  I  had  of  going  to  New-York  was 
heightened,  from  it  becoming  in  a  manner  neces- 
sary for  my  health,  which  has  lately  been  decli- 
ning under  a  slow  fever,  which  change  of  climate 
alone  wiH  cure.  My  disappointment  is  in  pro- 
portion to  the  flattering  idea  I  had  of  visiting  my 

J  friends.  Your  excellency  may  then  judge  how 
severely  I  must  feel  the  returning  to  Virginia  in 
my  present  state  of  health,  where  I  am  certain  my 
constitution  must  suffer  from  the  climate. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  with  the  greatest  per- 
sonal respect,  your  excellency's  most  obedient 
and  humble  servant,  **t>^ 

^  ^     -  ,^  JIIEDESEL,  Major-General. 


iV- 


*»',. 


ve  been  ap- 
mipany  with 

h  has  had  to 
3  possible  to 
[less  he  has 
th  which  he 
est  acknow- 
nention  this 

t 
'  my  deten- 
tten  to  your 
led,  with  his 
lit  the  plea^ 
v-York  was 
uner  neces- 
been  decli- 
i  of  climate 
•  is  ill  pro- 
visiting  my 
judge  how 
Virginia  in 
certain  my 
tte. 

reatest  per- 
t  obedient 

General. 


313 

....  • 

FROM  GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GENERAL  RIEDESEL. 

*>■■  r 

Head-Quarters,  West-Point,  Oct.  23,  1779. 

Sir, — T  have  had  the  honour  of  your  letter  of  the 
12th,  by  Mr.  Randolph. 

It  gives  me  pleasure  to  learn  that  this  young  gen- 
tleman's attentions,  during  the  course  of  your  jour- 
ney, have  been  such  as  to  deserve  your  approbation. 

I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  my  letter  to  major- 
general  Phillips,  for  my  answer  to  his  request  in 
your  favour.  I  sympathise  in  the  bad  state  of 
your  health,  and  very  sincerely  wish  an  alteration 
for  the  better,  which  I  would  hope  from  your 
change  of  situation.     I  am,  &c. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON. 


FROM  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Bethlehem,  Oct.  29, 1779.    •*■'' 

Sir, — Yesterday  evening,  I  was  honoured  with 
your  excellency's  letter  of  the  23d  of  October,  in 
answer  to  mine,  sent  by  Mr.  Randolph  ;  and  ma- 
jor-general Phillips  has  communicated  to  me  that 
part  of  your  excellency's  letter  to  him,  which  con- 
cerns me.    I  return  your  excellency  my  warmest 

37  '"^ 


'H 


.*>•• 


^■f  * 


■^ 


-4^ 


314 

thanks  for  the  share  you  take  in  my  indisposition, 
and  am  persuaded,  wlienever  my  disagreeable 
situation  can  be  changed,  every  thing  in  your  ex- 
cellency's power  will  be  done  to  forward  it. 

Your  excellency  mentions,  in  major-general 
Phillips'  letter,  that  T  might  represent  the  ill  state 
of  my  health  to  the  American  congress  :  but  when 
I  consider  that  the  sole  motive  which  determined 
me  to  undertake  tlie  very  long  journey  from  Char- 
lottesville to  Elizabeth-Town,  was  a  letter  from 
your  excellency  to  colonel  Bland,  the  contents  of 
which  he  communicated  to  me,  I  place  my  wiiole 
confidence  and  dependence  entirely  on  your  ex- 
cellency, under  whose  immediate  directions  I  con- 
ceive myself  to  be.  These  reasons  were,  also, 
my  inducement  to  take  the  liberty  of  making  a 
faithful  description  to  you  of  the  total  change  of 
my  health,  and  am  convinced,  whenever  your  ex- 
cellency may  think  proper  to  make  a  representa- 
tion of  these  facts  to  the  American  congress,  setting 
forth  the  circumstances  which  I  have  mentioned, 
it  would  have  much  greater  weight,  indeed  could 
not  fail  of  success,  than  any  address  from  an  indi- 
vidual to  the  American  congress,  a  body  to  whom 
I  am  unknown. 

It  is  through  your  excellency's  kind  intentions 
that  I  am  in  this  place,  and  as  the  very  impaired 
state  of  my  health  is  now  known  to  you,  I  cannot, 


V^ 


V- 


.A-:  ^ 


position, 
igreeable 
your  ex- 
it. 

r-general 
ill  state 
)ut  when 
termined 
3m  Char- 
ter from 
intents  of" 
ny  whole 
your  ex- 
ns  I  cen- 
tre, also, 
laking  a 
lange  of 
your  ex- 
presenta- 
s,  setting 
mtioned, 
ed  could 
an  indi- 
to  whom 

itentions 

mpaired 

cannot. 


315 ' 

sir,  doubt  your  generous  sentiments  in  procuring 
me  permission  to  go  into  New-York,  at  It  for 
the  time  it  may  be  necessary  to  re-establish  my 
health,  for  which  I  shall  ever  deem  myself  highly 
obliged  to  your  excellency. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  sir,  with  the  most  per- 
fect personal  respect,  your  excellency's  most  obe- 
dient and  most  humble  servant. 

RIEDESEL,  Major-General. 


FROM  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON. 

Brooklyn.  April,  1781. 

Sir,— Several  German  officers  of  the  conven- 
tion of  Saratoga,  having  applied  to  me  to  be  ex- 
changed,' on  account  of  their  particular  private 
affairs,  I  made  a  requisition  accordingly  to  major- 
general  Phillips,  to  propose  such  an  exchange  to 
your  excellency ;  and,  in  answer  to  my  request, 
general  Phillips  communicated  to  me  your  letter 
of  the  25th  of  January,  to  his  excellency  sir  Henry 
Clinton,  in  which  the  proposed  exchange  made 
by  major-general  Phillips  to  you,  sir,  on  the  23d  of 
December  last  is  agreed  to,  and,  consequently,  in- 
volves in  it  the  German  officers,  who  were  in- 
cluded in  the  proposition,  though  not  nominated 
at  that  time. 


^*  " 


^1 


«■ 


t- 


■"V 


■■%.x 


**» 


^ 


316 


** 


'^•. 

■^4,'' 


In  consequence  of  your  excellency's  acqui- 
escence  to  this  measure,  I  delivered  to  major-ge- 
neral Phillips  a  list  of  the  officers  I  begged  to  be 
exchanged,  which  he  has  assured  me  has  been  for- 
warded in  his  last  proposals  made  between  the 
British  and  American  commissary-generals  of  pri- 
soners, on  the  3d  of  Marcii. 

As  all  the  British  officers  major-general  Phil- 
lips asked  to  be  exchanged  at  that  time  are  al- 
ready arrived,  without  one  German  officer  in- 
cluded in  their  number,  I  presume  that  the  before- 
mentioned  list  has  not  reached  your  excellency's 
hands,  being  convinced  chat  you,  sir,  would  be 
guided  with  the  same  impartiality  towards  one 
nation  as  another;  I,  therefore,  take  the  liberty  of 
repeating  major-general  Phillips'  application  for, 
your  having  the  goodness  to  exchange  the  Ger- 
man officers  mentioned  in  tlie  said  list,  a  copy  of 
which  I  annex  to  this,  and  to  give  your  excel- 
lency's orders  tor  those  gentlemen  being  sent  to 
New-York. 

Major  Meibom,  of  my  regiment  of  dragoons, 
and  ensign  Meibom,  of  my  regiment  of  infantry, 
belonging  to  the  troops  of  his  serene  highness  the 
duke  of  Brunswic,  being  made  prisoners  of  war, 
a  few  days  past  on  Long-Island,  T  shall  acknow- 
ledge it  as  an  effect  of  your  excellency's  goodness 
to  permit  these  two  officers  to  come  to  New- York 
on  parole.    The  infirm  state  of  major  Meibom's 


health 
make  us( 
excellem 
permissic 
cellency 
I  have 
most  obe 


FROM  GEN 


Sir,— I 
April,  wii 
have  bee 
passed  fr 
Decembe 
on  the  2 
have  mis 
you  copi 
acceded 
cers  part 
I  refused 
minate  m 
sent  to  T 
ueneval  1 


.►iy^u«fc,., 


.^4*t  ntHt^  '^-  ..I-  »-^-i^  J^      ,_r\<' 


'^W. 


#    .  317 

^    *       a 


*^   t 


3  acqui* 
»ajor-ge- 
ed  to  be 
►een  for- 
'een  the 
3  of  pri- 

•al  Phil- 
are  al- 
icer  in- 
!  before- 
illency's 
ould  be 
rds  one 
berty  of 
tion  for, 
le  Ger- 
copy  of 
excel- 
sent  to 

agoons, 
ifantry, 
less  the 
of  war, 
cknow- 
>odness 
v-York 
>ibom*s 


health  claims  a  particular  nttention,  and  1  shall 
make  use  of  every  interest  in  my  power,  with  his 
excellency  general  sir  Henry  Clinton,  to  procure 
permission  for  tlieir  being  cxchunjjfcd,  if  your  ex- 
cellency will  please  to  give  your  approbation. 

I  have  the  honour  to  be,  sir,  your  excellency's 
most  obedient  and  most  humble  servant, 

KIEDESEL,  Mujor-General. 


H 


■i^.' 


.»    ,»■ 


•■1*'^ 


PBOM  GENERAL  WASHINOTON  TO  GEXEKAL    HIEDESEL. 

'  ^-  •  f        . ..  "^J>i* 

.'      li  uJ-Qtinrt'-r?,  N;.'W-\Vi(ulsor,  May  11,1781. 

Sir, — I  have  been  honoured  with  your  favour  of 
April,  without  particular  date.  You  must  either 
have  been  misinformed  as  to  the  letters  which 
passed  from  general  Phillips  to  me  of  the  23d 
December,  and  from  me  to  sir  Henry  Clinton, 
on  the  25th  of  January,  in  answer,  or  you  must 
have  misunderstood  them.  I  therefore  enclose 
you  copies  of  them.  You  will  observe,  that  I 
acceded  only  to  the  exchange  of  the  British  offi- 
cers particularly  named  in  general  Phillips'  letter. 
I  refused  his  proposal  of  permitting  an  indeter- 
minate number  of  British  or  German  officers  to  be 
sent  to  New-York,  at  the  discretion  of  brigadier- 
general  Hnmilton. 

27* 


4 


*.."• 


<r 


j^  y 


;* 


-I 


M 


*A 


'-"^ 


t 


■J* 


318 

Some  time  after,  proposals  for  a  farther  ex- 
change, bearing  date  the  3d  of  March,  and  in 
which  are  included  the  German  officers  whose 
names  you  mention,  were  communicated  to  me  by 
my  commissary-general  of  prisoners,  to  which  I 
did  not  think  proper  to  accede,  as  I  conceived  the 
exchange  of  lieutenant-general  Burgoyne  was  un- 
reasonably delayed.  My  answer  and  instructions 
upon  this  head  have  been  communicated  at  large 
to  Mr.  Loring  by  Mr.  Skinner. 

Were  I  inclined  to  partiality  in  favour  of  the 
British  officers,  I  have  it  not  in  my  power  to  ex- 
ercise it,  as  the  choice  of  the  objects  of  exchange 
does  not  lie  with  me. 

At  your  particular  request,  I  have  given  orders 
to  have  major  and  ensign  de  Meibom  sent  into 
New-York  upon  parole.     I  am,  &c. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON. 


•^     .'* 


by  the  si 

cern»i  the 

troops  I 

cific  situi 

make  thi 

thut  I  n 

parture 

with  yoi 

peace — 

two  coui 

ness  and 

I  have 

high  est 

and  ver 


FROM  GI 


.«^' 


CROM  GENERAL  RIEDESEL  TO  GENERAL  WASHINGTON . 

Sorel,  June  21, 1783. 

Sir, — I  beg  leave  hereby  to  introduce  lieuten- 
ant Danier,  of  the  Brunswic  troops,  and  to  re- 
quest your  excellency  will  permit  him  to  have 
passports  to  go  to  New- York,  by  land,  and  return 


r. 


Sir,- 
polite  1 
nier,  a 
with  y( 
jnentio 
York,  \ 

Had 
bf  g  yo 


*3^ 


tm'-^^r 


;f«;i 


•i?^»*^|p«(^ 


rther  ex- 
and  in 

8  whose 
to  me  by 

which  I 
eived  the 

was  un- 
tructions 

at  large 

ir  of  the 
Jr  to  ex- 
jxchange 

;n  orders 
sent  into 

rTON. 


HINGTON . 
21,  178y. 

lieuten- 
id  to  re- 
to  have 
d  return 


319 


by  the  same  route,  on  business  which  only  con- 
cerns the  interior  and  particular  economy  of  the 
troops  I  have  the  honour  to  command.  The  pa- 
cific situation  of  public  affairs  emboldens  me  to 
make  this  request,  and  I  suspend  farther  apology, 
th:a  I  may  seize  the  occasion,  before  my  de- 
parture from  this  continent,  of  congratulating 
with  your  excellency  on  the  blessed  return  of 
peace — to  wish  every  union  and  prosperity  to  the 
two  countries,  and  you,  sir,  every  personal  happi- 
ness and  domestic  enjoyment  it  can  produce. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  with  all  deference  and 
high  esteem,  sir,  your  excellency's  most  obedient 
and  very  humble  servant, 

RIEDESEL. 


FR03I  GENERAL  WASHINGTON  TO  GENERAL  RIEDESEL. 

Head-Quarters,  July  14,  1783. 

Sir, — I  had  the  satisfaction  of  receiving  your 
polite  letter  of  the  21st  June,  by  lieutenant  Du- 
nier,  and  the  particular  pleasure  of  complying 
with  your  request,  by  granting  the  passports  you 
jnentioned  for  that  gentleman  to  go  into  New- 
V'ork,  and  to  return  again  to  Canada. 

Had  this  request  needed  any  apology,  (which  1 
beg  you  to  believe  it  did  not,)  your  very  agreea^ 


#^-> 


f* 


m 


-^aM- 


■•'■mm^ 


.^z«r^ 


%J. 


'-^" 


.* 


'% 


.^ 


320 


^' 


f. 


j^ 


ble  congratulations  ofl  the  happy  return  of  peace, 
with  the  benevolent  wishes  whici;  you  are  pleased 

^ .  to  express  for  the  future  friendly  union  and  inter- 
course of  the  two  countries,  and  for  my  own  per- 

\  sonal  happiness  and  domestic  enjoyment,  would 

,,  have  formed  a  most  pleasing  one.  I  pray  you  to 
be  persuaded,  sir,  that  my  best  and  most  devout 
wishes  for  your  safe  return  to  your  own  country 
attend  you,  as  well  as  for  your  future  happiness, 
prosperity,  and  glory. 

The  Baron  de  Steuben  will  do  me  the  favour  to 
place  this  in  your  hand.     This  gentleman  is  in- 

,.  structed  from  me,  to  form  some  arrangements  with 
general  Haldimand  respecting  the  execution  of 
the  seventh  article  of  the  provisional  treaty,  and 
receiving  possession  of  the  posts  now  under  his 
direction,  and  in  the  occupation  of  the  British 
;  troops,  which  are  ceded  by  treaty  to  the  United 
States. 

As  an  officer  of  distinction  and  reputation,  as 
a  foreigner,  and  a  gentleman  of  agreeable  and 
genteel  manners,  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  the 
Baron  to  your  particular  attention  and  civilities, 
:-  persuading  myself  that  your  goodness  will  afford 
him  every  aid  in  the  prosecution  of  his  tour,  and 
the  execution  of  his  commission,  that  shall  fall 
within  your  power.     I  am,  &c. 

GEO.  WASHINGTON. 


k 


Preface, 
Notes  to 
Letter  1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

12. 

13. 

14. 

15. 

16. 

17 

18 

19 

2C 
^  -     21 


n 


..  •'#-  ■ 


■■*.  '♦ 


'^v 


of  peace, 
■e  pleased 
md  inter- 
own  per- 
nt,  would 
ly  you  to 
St  devout 
country 
appiness, 

favour  to 
an  is  in- 
ents  with 
;ution  of 
iaty,  and 
mder  his 
3  British 
3  United 

ation,  as 
ible  and 
lend  the 
iivilities, 
11  afford 
our,  and 
ball  fall 


roN. 


t- 


0 


J        I 


■r 


■!f 


'\ 


l    .*^;'^'  ■■«■ 


fk- 


'.^4f 


V^ 


CONTENTS. 


.^• 


■^  ■*:♦'!' 


•f       »!*»■;-»•    - 


Preface,         .  . 

Notes  to  the  Preface, 

Letter  1.  from  General  Riedesel  to  his  wife, 


2. 
3. 
4. 
6. 

^» 
7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 


do. 
do. 
do. 
d< 


do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

doj* 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 


'\ 


20.  from  Mad.  de  Riedesel  to  her  mother, 

21.  d». 


-■  .1,  '  * 

t 
Page. 

5 

21 

wife. 

25 

do. 

26 

do. 

Ir 

27              '  ' 

do. 

28      *  *         ' 

do. 
do. 

2^          -#.^ 
31 

do. 

•• 

St          W. 

do. 
do. 

c 

^,,.-f^ 

do. 

39  .           .^l 

do. 

40 

do. 

42 

do. 

44 

do. 
do. 
do. 

46       ,^^ 

51     ■■•"''      "1 

do. 

62 

do. 

53 

do. 

54 

moth( 

5r, 

55 

do. 

56 

If  v  4 


■t-     .  ,•  .i|s*« 


Z^" 


jki^^^^l^^^^ttinv^ 


"^ 


y*'*ft«MHi»«^«Nl, 


>*^j^,-:' 


3k. 


V 


!        i» 


•  '   •;; 


':* 


322  ^ 

Mad.  de  Riedesel's  account  of  her  journey  from 

Wolfenbiittel  to  Bristol, 
Residence  of  Mad.    de    R.iedesel   at   Bristol, 

Portsmouth,  and   London,  and  her  sailing 

from  Portsmouth, 
Letter  22.  from  General  Riedesel  to  his  wife,    . 

23.  do.  do.     . 

24.  da«;  do.     . 
Diary  of  Mad.  de  Riedesel  during  her  voyage 

from  Portsmouth  to  Quebec,  until  her  ar- 
rival at  the  latter  place, 

Letter  25.  Extract  frotn  a  letter  of  General 
Riedesel  to  his  wife, 

Continuation  of  Mad.  de   Riedesel's  journal 

from  Quebec,  until  her  meeting  with  her 

husband — during  the  time  of  their  second 

'    separation — and  till  their  reunion  at  Fort 

Edward,  .... 

Abstract  from  a  mil'tary  memoir,  concerning 
^  .      the  campaign  of  1777,  (by  General  Riede- 

S6X^  ]  •  •  •  •  • 

Continuation  of  Mad.  de  Riedesel's  account  of 
her  residence  in  America, 

Mad.  de  Riedesel's  journal,  from  the  time  of 
her  departure  from  America,  until  her  ar- 
rival at  Brunswic, 

APPENDIX. 

Letter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Wash- 
iogton,  dated  Cambridge,  Jan.  11,  1778, 


■^■*- 


..^. 


'•t    1 


•% 


Pago. 
58 

72 

95 

99 

101 

103 
117 


120 

137 
164 

282 


301 


liCtter  fron 
Riedes 
Forge 
Letter  fron 
dated 
Letter  fron 
dated 
Letter  fron 
ington 
Feb.  : 
Letter  fron 
ingtoi 
Oct.  ] 
Letter  froi 
Riede 
Point, 
Letter  fronr 
ington 
Letter  fron 
ingtor 
fietter  froi 
Riede 
Wind 
Letter  fron 
ton,  d 
Letter  fro 
Ried( 
■'.1783, 


Paso, 


58 


72 

95 

99 

101 


103 
117 


120 

137 

164 

282 


323 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Riedesel,  dated  Head-Quarters,  Valley- 
Forge,  March  31,  1778,  .  . 

Letter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Gates, 
dated  Cambridge,  Nov.  21,  1778. 

Letter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Gates, 
dated  Essex  Court- House,  Jan.  2,  1779, 

Letter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Wash- 
ington, dated  Colle,  near  Charlottesville, 
Feb.  16,  1779.    .... 

Tietter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Wash- 
ington, dated  Bethlehem,  in  Pennsylvania, 
Oct.  12,1779,     .... 

Letter  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Riedesel,  dated  Head-Quarters,  West- 
Point,  Oct.  23,  1779,       .  .       '      . 

Letter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Wash- 
ington, dated  Bethlehem,  Oct.  29,  1779, 

Letter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Wash- 
ington, dated  Brooklyn,  April,  1781, 

fiCtter  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Riedesel,  dated  Head-Quarters,  New- 
Windsor,  May  11,  1781, 

Letter  from  General  Riedesel  to  General  Wash- 
ton,  dated  Sorel,  June  12,  1783, 

liCtter  from  General  Washington  to  General 
Riedesel,  dated  Head-Quarters,  July  11, 
J  783,       •   .         V    "         • 


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